Paris, France
France’s highest administrative court on Thursday upheld a ban on female footballers wearing Islamic hijabs, after politicians took up the issue, saying secularism was in danger.
“Sports federations whose mission is to ensure the proper functioning of public services (…) may impose a requirement of neutrality on their players during competitions and sporting events, to guarantee the smooth running of matches and possible clashes or clashes”, indicated the Constitutional Council in a press release. .
She ruled that a rule from the French Football Federation (FFF) banning “any sign or clothing clearly showing a political, philosophical, religious or trade union affiliation” during the match was “appropriate and proportionate”.
A group of Muslim footballers called the “Hijabeuses” had launched the action against the FFF regulations.
The FFF simply indicated that it had “taken note” of the judgment, adding that the sporting body “reaffirms the republican and civic values which keep football alive, as well as its total commitment to the fight against all forms of discrimination and in favor of gender equality. .
Marion Ogier, lawyer for the “Hijabeuses”, declared that this decision “upends secularism and freedom of expression” and “abuses 30 years of jurisprudence” on the issue.
“This decision goes against social cohesion in a country founded on diversity and pluralism,” she told AFP.
The judges found themselves under political pressure ahead of the ruling, as major parties sought to push the far right back to the top of the polls.
Secularism is a sensitive subject in France, presented by its defenders as a means of guaranteeing the religious neutrality of the State and by its critics as a whistle against ethnic and religious minorities, particularly Muslims.
Monday’s boost to “hijabes,” when the state’s legal counsel concluded the rule was unjustified, sparked a wave of political condemnation.
Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin, a supporter of the hard line in terms of maintaining order, declared Tuesday: “I deeply hope for the republic that (judges) respect neutrality on sports fields. »
The “Hijabeuses” hoped to give “blows” to the republic, Darmanin added.
“You shouldn’t wear religious clothing when you play sports… when you play football, you don’t need to know the religion of the person in front of you,” he said.
Other voices from the conservative Les Républicains party and the far-right National Rally were also heard.
Far-right leader Marine Le Pen wrote on Twitter: “No to hijab in sport. And we will pass a law so that it is respected.”
Republican leader Eric Ciotti said his party, which holds only 62 seats in the 577-seat French parliament, would present a bill on the subject if the court allowed the wearing of the hijab.
Sports Minister Amélie Oudea-Castera also suggested that Macron’s government could legislate, saying that “we are not excluding anything” and “we see that there is a need for clarification.”
The Constitutional Council itself responded on Wednesday against what it describes as “attacks targeting administrative power and in particular the legal advisor”.
Calling into question the functioning of justice constitutes “an attack on an institution essential to democracy”, added the body, estimating that it could initiate legal proceedings in the event of “insult, defamation, incitement to hatred or threats”.
