(WASHINGTON D.C., 1/20/2022) – The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today condemned a French law that could ban Muslim athletes from wearing hijabs, or Islamic headscarves at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
The law, which bans “conspicuous religious symbols” in events organized by sports federations., was amended by the French Senate on Tuesday to include explicit language banning the wearing of hijabs by athletes. A commission composed of members of the lower house and the Senate will now convene to attempt to reach a compromise.
SEE: France moves closer to banning veils in sports competitions
In a statement, CAIR Deputy Executive Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell said:
“This discriminatory law targeting female Muslim athletes is yet another example of the French government’s obsession with restricting the religious freedom of Muslims. We condemn this law, and we call on the Olympic Organizing Committee to ensure that French Muslim athletes will be able to freely exercise their religious freedom during the 2024 Paris Olympics. We also call on the Biden administration to speak out against the French government’s ongoing attacks on freedom of religion.”
Mitchell noted that earlier today, CAIR called on athletes participating in the 2022 Beijing Olympics to defy the China’s announced ban on political expression and speak out against that nation’s genocide targeting the Uyghur Muslim minority.
SEE: CAIR Urges Olympic Athletes to Defy China Free Speech Ban, Speak Out Against Uyghur Genocide
He also noted that CAIR has previously condemned actions by the French government targeting French Muslims.
SEE: CAIR Calls on Sec. of State Blinken to Condemn, Address Actions Targeting Mosques in India, France
CAIR Urges Biden to Condemn France’s Forced Closure of Last Major French Muslim Civil Rights Organization
CAIR Condemns Court Ruling Against French Muslim Civil Rights Group, Expresses Solidarity with France’s Muslim Community
CAIR’s mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
La misión de CAIR es proteger las libertades civiles, mejorar la comprensión del Islam, promover la justicia, y empoderar a los musulmanes en los Estados Unidos.
Become a Fan of CAIR on Facebook
http://www.facebook.com/CAIRNational
Subscribe to CAIR’s Email List
https://action.cair.com/a/newsletters
Subscribe to CAIR’s Twitter Feed
http://twitter.com/cairnational
Subscribe to CAIR’s YouTube Channel
Follow CAIR on Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/cair_national/
Donate to CAIR
https://action.cair.com/a/donate
Do you like reading CAIR press releases and taking part in our action alerts? You can help contribute to CAIR’s work of defending civil rights and empowering American Muslims across the country by making a one-time contribution or becoming a monthly donor. Supporters like you make CAIR’s advocacy work possible and defeating Islamophobia an achievable goal. Click here to donate to CAIR.
If you would like to join CAIR’s media list, please sign up here: https://action.cair.com/a/newsletters — For more information, email: info@cair.com, CC ihooper@cair.com
END
CONTACT: CAIR National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell, 404-285-9530, e-Mitchell@cair.com; CAIR Government Affairs Director Robert McCaw, 202-742-6448, rmccaw@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Coordinator Ismail Allison, 202-770-6280, iallison@cair.com
