The road to monumental Olympics has taken a contentious turn, as France has ignited a global debate by deciding to bar its athletes from wearing the hijab during the games, drawing international condemnation.
It should be noted that France, where around 10 percent of its 67 million inhabitants are Muslim, has again attracted attention with its latest decision to ban its athletes from wearing the Islamic veils effective July 26, 2024, the date the Olympic flame will be lit.
This ruling has once again thrust France into the spotlight, with many raising concerns about human rights violations and the principles of diversity, equality and inclusivity that the Olympics traditionally uphold.
Paris is scheduled to host the Summer Olympics from July 26 to Aug. 11, 2024.
UN rights agency slams France’s decision to bar its 2024 Olympic athletes from wearing headscarf.
“No-one should impose on a woman what she needs to wear or not wear,” United Nations rights office spokeswoman Marta Hurtado told reporters in Geneva.
Hurtado’s comment came after the French sports minister said the country’s athletes would be barred from wearing headscarves during the Games, in line with the country’s strict rules on secularism.
The Islamic Solidarity Sports Federation, a collective representing member countries of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), expressed its “profound concern” about France’s decision.
The federation emphasized that this ban contradicts the core values of the Olympics, which are rooted in equality and respect for cultural diversity.
