French government and Olympics officials are hunting for a solution to allow Muslim French sprinter Sounkamba Sylla to wear hijab at the opening ceremony.
At the same time, they want to comply with the country’s secularism laws.
The Hijab is a head covering worn by many Muslim women.
Thousands of athletes, including some who wear a hijab, are arriving for the Paris Olympics.
This places an international spotlight on tensions in France over national identity and perceived discrimination against Muslims.
Sylla is part of France’s 400-metre relay team.
She has competed with a black headscarf in several previous events.
These include the World Championships in 2022 and 2023, and the World Relays in May 2024.
Sylla’s Instagram Post
She wrote on her Instagram account on Monday that her hijab would prevent her from appearing in Friday’s blockbuster opening ceremony.
“You are selected for the Olympic Games, organised in your country, but you can’t take part in the opening ceremony because you wear a scarf on your head,” Sylla said.
She did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
France is home to Europe’s largest Muslim minority.
Secularism in France
France enforces a strict principle of “ laicite ”, loosely translated as “secularism.”
It enforces laws to protect the principle of secularism.
State employees and school pupils cannot wear religious symbols and clothing in public institutions.
Rights groups say these rules effectively discriminate against Muslims.
Amelia Oudea-Castera, Minister for Sport and the Olympic and Paralympic Games, emphasised the primciples of secularism.
She said, “Our citizens expect us to follow these principles of secularism, but we also need to be inventive about solutions to make everyone feel good.”
They added that Sylla “understands our principles, our rules”.
Foreign athletes are not affected by the secularism rules.
View of the French Olympic Committee
David Lappartient, president of the French Olympic Committee expects the French Olympic team to adhere to the principle of secularism.
He said the French Olympic team was “taking part in a public service mission and in this respect it is obliged to observe secularism”.
He acknowledged that the French approach “is sometimes incomprehensible in other countries”.
David said said there was still time to find solutions before the gala ceremony.
Several French sporting authorities have banned women from wearing religious head coverings in sports.
These include football, basketball, judo and boxing, according to Human Rights Watch.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) does not have rules against wearing religious head coverings.
OHCHR’s View
Maria Hurtado, spokeswoman for the U.N. high commissioner for human rights had criticised the French government over its stance on the h
ijab for French athletes during the Olympic Games.
Maria said that “no one should impose on a woman what she needs to wear, or not wear”.
Le Parisien newspaper reported that Sylla might participate in the Olympics opening ceremony wearing a cap.
(With Inputs From Reuters)
