2023-10-02 09:24:55
AA / Istanbul / Yunus Kaymaz
As France prepares to host the Olympic Games following 100 years, successive government bans on athletes have eclipsed the Olympic spirit.
According to government data, France, where around 10% of the population is Muslim, has once more distinguished itself with a new ban effective July 26, 2024, the date the Olympic flame will be lit.
The announcement made by the French Minister of Sports, Amélie Oudea-Castera, during a television program, according to which no woman in her country’s delegation will be able to wear the veil (hijab) during the Olympic Games, has sparked strong reactions reactions and once once more fueled the debate on human rights violations.
– The International Olympic Committee blames international federations
In response to Anadolu Agency’s question regarding France’s decision to ban the veil, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) blamed the international federations.
In the IOC statement, “the wearing of headscarves in sports competitions at Paris 2024 depends on the competition regulations determined by the relevant international federation. In the Olympic Village, athletes are free to wear the veil at any time.”
By emphasizing that athletes can wear the veil in the Olympic village, the IOC has been criticized for failing to prevent countries or international federations participating in the Games from imposing bans that violate human rights.
– It is clear that the French government must explain its actions
“France’s ban raises all kinds of questions and contradictions, including an athlete’s right to self-determination,” assures Simon Chadwick, professor at SKEMA Business School in Paris, to the Anadolu Agency correspondent. .
Chadwick, professor of sport and geopolitical economy, recalls that the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights criticized France for this decision:
“Outside the specific context of France, this incident raises questions regarding how global events and local laws, norms and customs interact, and in particular whether differences between the two can be effectively reconciled. It is clear that the French government must explain its actions and be held accountable, but the IOC and other world sports leaders must also be more proactive and decisive in dealing with these issues. The IOC stipulates legal protection for its sponsors when it grants the right to host the Olympic Games, so why doesn’t it take an equally clear and assertive stance on the wearing of religious clothing?”
– There is no guarantee that there will be no retaliation
Stating that France’s decision confronts the sporting world with some realities, Chadwick added: “We hope that other countries will not take retaliatory measures in response to France’s veil ban, but there is no guarantee that this will not happen in our multipolar world.
“It is therefore essential to reflect an open, welcoming and egalitarian France to ensure the success of the staging of the plays. The ban on the wearing of the veil will arouse resentment among certain audiences and stakeholders, which might compromise the objectives of the French government,” he explains, noting that France faces problems internally and abroad.
– France also ignored the international federation
France has banned the wearing of the veil, authorized by FIFA, the world football organization, in sports organizations in its country, thus bringing human rights violations to this area as well.
While FIFA ruled that female footballers might wear the veil in 2014, the Under-17 Women’s World Cup in Jordan in 2016 was the first tournament where Muslim players were allowed to wear the veil.
The freedom of female footballers was once once more blocked by France during the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup. Due to the ban in the country, female football players were not allowed to wear headscarves during the tournament organized by France.
At this year’s Women’s World Cup hosted by Australia and New Zealand, Moroccan footballer Nouhaila Benzina made history by becoming the first player to compete with a headscarf.
– “Wearing the hijab strengthens our determination”
Ibtihaj Muhammad, the first American Muslim fencer to compete with a headscarf and a bronze medalist at Rio 2016, responded to France’s bans by posting on social media: “Being questioned regarding the headscarf only strengthens our determination to carry it.”
Ibtihaj Muhammad is not the only athlete to compete and win a medal at the Games while wearing the veil.
Kimia Alizadeh Zenoorin, a taekwondo practitioner who competed for Iran at Rio 2016 and won a bronze medal, Hedaya Malak, another Egyptian taekwondo practitioner who reached third place on the podium at Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020, and Sara Samir, an Egyptian weightlifter who won a bronze medal at Rio 2016, competed in the Olympics with their veil.
*Translated from Turkish by Nursena Karakaya
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