The French Sports Ministry has banned its athletes from wearing hijab while competing at the Paris 2024 olympics – despite being widely dubbed as a “gender-equal olympics” with a 50:50 place allocation. 

The ministry clarified that hijab could be worn in the Olympic village but not while completing at the games itself. 

“Athletes are prohibited from wearing any other accessory or garment expressing their religious affiliation when representing France in a national or international sporting competition,” the statement said. 

Athletes for other countries have to abide by the rules set by their own federations and the International Olympic Committee (IOC). 

Many human rights organizations expressed their disapproval at France’s decision; calling it “discriminatory and hypocritical”.

“French authorities made it emphatically and unashamedly clear … that their proclaimed efforts at improving gender equality and inclusivity in sports do not apply to one group of women and girls — those Muslim women and girls who wear religious head coverings,” Amnesty International said. 

The United Nations said that “no one should impose on a woman what she needs to wear, or not wear.” 

France has banned women and girls from wearing hijab in public schools since 2004.