ISLAMABAD: France’s right-wing-controlled Senate has approved a bill prohibiting religious symbols, including the hijab, in professional and amateur sports, drawing criticism from rights groups and left-wing politicians.
The bill, which still requires approval from the National Assembly, has gained government support. Proponents argue it upholds French secularism, while critics see it as discriminatory, particularly against Muslim women.
Religious symbols are already banned for civil servants, teachers, and students in France, and several sports federations have implemented similar restrictions. If passed, the law would extend this ban nationwide across all sports competitions.
The Senate voted 210-81 in favor of prohibiting attire that visibly displays religious or political affiliations. The proposed law also seeks to regulate swimwear in public pools to align with secular principles.
Supporters claim the measure combats “separatism,” but opponents, including Amnesty International, accuse the government of using secularism as a pretext for Islamophobic policies that disproportionately target Muslim women.
UN experts have previously criticized France’s stance, calling existing bans on sports hijabs “disproportionate and discriminatory.”
