Overview

• Marie Barsacq, France's Sports Minister, criticized a Senate-approved proposal to ban hijabs in sports competitions, differentiating it from issues of radicalization.
• She emphasized that the ministry's goal is to ensure access to sports for all, framing sports as a tool for personal emancipation.
• Barsacq argued that wearing a hijab is not inherently linked to 'entrisme' (infiltration), though she acknowledged isolated cases of inappropriate behavior in sports contexts.
• The proposal, supported by another government minister, has reignited long-standing debates over laïcité (secularism) and religious symbols in French sports.
• The minister faced criticism from lawmakers and public figures, with some accusing her of downplaying concerns about community-driven radicalism in sports.