Last Updated on 30/07/2024 by wccexam Desk
The Paris Olympics 2024 is in full swing. French officials are happy that this is the first Olympics in which an equal number of women and men have participated. But meanwhile, a new controversy has erupted over the hijab worn by Muslim women in the Paris Olympics. Due to France’s hijab law, French female athletes are being prevented from playing wearing hijab. Many female athletes have raised questions on this.
While Muslim women from other countries are playing in the Olympic Games wearing hijab, French athletes have been forced to give up their hijab.
24-year-old basketball player Diaba Konate from France says, “There was a lot of diversity in the opening ceremony of the Olympics. I thought it was going to be very beautiful. It should have been the same for all of us, including women wearing hijab.”
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In 2017, the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) lifted the ban on playing wearing hijab, but the French Basketball Federation refused to lift the ban on hijab. In France, along with the players, coaches and referees are also prohibited from wearing hijab.
The French Basketball Federation defends its policy, saying it reflects France’s secularism policy, which prohibits people from wearing religious clothing in official public places.
‘Good player but because of hijab…’
Konate says that despite being a good player, she has not been given the opportunity to play in the Olympics. Konate has played for the French national youth team and won a silver medal at the Youth Olympics held in Buenos Aires in 2018.
Konate, who played college basketball in America for six years, has been among the top 30 players in the US.
She says, ‘I think I could have made it to the Olympics. I wish I had the chance! We feel sad that we never got such a chance. The ban on hijab is separating us and the opportunities we get are also getting limited.’
Criticism of France’s hijab ban
In the month of June, human rights organizations Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International wrote a letter to the International Olympic Committee demanding that it criticize France’s hijab ban and intervene in this matter.
In the letter, the human rights organizations wrote, ‘This ban imposed by the French sports authorities is discriminatory. It prevents Muslim athletes wearing hijab from exercising their human rights to play any sport without discrimination.’
‘Hijab is a part of life, I will never stop wearing it’
Speaking to Turkish broadcaster TRT World, player Konate said, ‘It is frustrating to be in this situation. I don’t know what to do. It is very difficult for me to accept this. I want to play basketball for a long time and I don’t want to give it up now.’
She says giving up the hijab is not an option and she will never take it off because it has now become a part of her life.
Konate has another option to continue playing with the hijab and that is to play for a European country other than France. However, Konate is not ready for this option.
She says, ‘I believe that I should not need to go anywhere else to play. I want to stay in Paris with my family. It is very difficult for me to leave here.’
She further says, ‘I want to tell the world how ridiculous this is. I understand that they also know that we only want to play basketball. But we are being separated, which I think is injustice.’
French player had to remove hijab to play in Olympics
Just before the opening ceremony, French sprinter (short distance runner) Soukamba Sila was being prevented from participating in the Olympics because she was wearing a hijab. But at the last moment it was decided that she could play the Olympics wearing a cap instead of a hijab, after which she was able to participate in the opening ceremony.
Australian boxer Tina Rahmani questioned France’s hijab ban and said that women should have the right to decide what to wear and what not to wear.
Rahmani is the first Australian female boxer to represent Australia at the Olympic Games.
“The hijab is part of my religion and I choose to wear it and I am proud to wear it. You should not be asked to choose between your faith/religion or sport. French athletes are being forced to make this choice,” she said in an Instagram post.