Overview

• The proposed law banning religious symbols, including the hijab, in sports competitions has been approved by the French Senate and is pending examination by the National Assembly.
• Prime Minister François Bayrou has directed ministers to align with the government's support for the law, despite earlier divisions within the cabinet.
• Prominent athletes like Teddy Riner have criticized the ban as discriminatory, while others, including Mahyar Monshipour, argue it upholds secular values and women's freedoms.
• Supporters claim the law aligns with the Olympic Charter's principles of neutrality by prohibiting religious and political demonstrations in sports.
• Critics, including Amnesty International, warn the law disproportionately targets Muslim women and violates their rights to religious expression and cultural participation.