LAGOS, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA) The French government has made a controversial decision to forbid its athletes from wearing hijabs during the upcoming 2024 Paris Olympics.
This decision was announced by France’s sports minister, Amelie Oudea-Castera, during an interview with the French political program Dimanche en Politique, as reported by Inside the Games.
Oudea-Castera stated that the French government, after consultations with Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne, is emphasizing the importance of “absolute neutrality” during the Olympic Games in the country’s capital.
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She explained that they are committed to a strict secularism policy, which includes the prohibition of any form of proselytism and the complete neutrality of public service.
As a result, French athletes representing their delegations in national teams will not be allowed to wear the hijab.
Oudea-Castéra pointed out that the International Olympic Committee (IOC) interprets the wearing of the veil not as a religious matter but as a cultural one.
The decision also depends on the regulations of individual International Federations, which may vary among different sports.
It’s important to note that France had previously banned the wearing of the hijab in schools, and this new decision adds to the ongoing debate about religious attire and secularism in the country.
