French Parliament Debates Nationwide Ban on Religious Headscarves in Sports

The proposed legislation, criticized by Amnesty International as discriminatory, seeks to extend existing bans on religious clothing in specific sports to all competitive events.

• French lawmakers are debating a bill that would prohibit all 'ostensibly religious' clothing, including headscarves, in sporting competitions.
• The bill, supported by right-wing senators, builds on existing bans in soccer and rugby and aims to enforce a principle of religious neutrality in sports.
• Amnesty International has condemned the proposal, arguing it targets Muslim women and infringes on their religious freedoms.
• The debate has reignited discussions about France's strict secularism laws, which critics say have been used to marginalize Muslim women in public spaces.
• The bill's future remains uncertain, as it faces a lengthy legislative process and potential challenges in the deeply divided lower house of parliament.

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