In January of 2022, the French senate voted 160 to 143 to ban girls from wearing hijabs in sports events. Their argument was that the headscarves increase the risk of injury of athletes who wear them while participating. 

This ban has been supported by Les Républicains, a conservative political party that is focused on pro-European views. 

The party’s argument is that France must preserve the Republic, and to them that means disrupting their 5 million Muslim population. But, this is not the first time France has targeted Muslim women.

In April of 2021 the full Islamic veil was banned from being worn in public places. Before that in 2004 a law was placed that banned religious symbols being worn, including the hijab.

Before 2014, wearing a hijab to play soccer was banned but ultimately turned down by FIFA. France continues to ban women in sports from playing with hijabs, although they consider themselves a country focused on personal freedoms. 

This new ban on hijabs would completely change sports in France for current and rising athletes. Islamophobia has been labeled on the ban, and the argument against the ban defends the right to religion. 

French Muslim athletes have no intention of influencing other athletes with their religious tradition, and wearing a hijab is no different than performing the sign of the cross before a game. 

Senators that support the bill believe that all of France should participate in their preferred religion, but refrain from displaying differences at a minimum. 

In the last year, France suffered attacks, including the death of Samuel Paty, a teacher who taught about freedom of speech with the Prophet Muhammad. 

The potential law does not directly mention Islam, but protests by French Muslims have been building up for months. Muslim women have felt the most targeted, and if the law is out into place their entire religious beliefs will be publicly violated. 

France has been a secular state since 1905, and believes all citizens are equals and their religions should be respected. As a secular state France has no official religion, and this ban could go against the freedom of religion in France. 

The official vote will go to France’s National Assembly after the Senate refused to vote on the bill. Until then, French citizens will have to keep protesting for their freedoms set since the 1789 Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen.