UK, Finland, USA… the hijab in sports is widely accepted in the world – Liberation

World tour

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–While the National Assembly on Wednesday re-invoked an amendment banning the wearing of the veil during sports competitions, reviewing practices in other countries.–

For or against wearing the hijab during sports competitions? This week, the debate has stirred up the chamber for the umpteenth time. At the center of the controversy is this Muslim scarf that covers the hair and neck but leaves the face uncovered. Widely tolerated around the world, it is now increasingly present at international sports competitions.

The last time the hijab was talked about so much was when the Decathlon brand tried to market its own in France in 2019. Under fire, the firm had finally chosen to withdraw the product. Yet if the hijab, from the Arabic hajaba (“conceal”), has become more accessible in the sports world in recent years, it is precisely because brands have developed models designed in technical fabric, specifically for sports practice.

In Europe, the majority of countries allow it at competitions. From Germany to Switzerland via Portugal, Italy or Spain, many of them let their sportswomen compete with a hijab. In November, the Council of Europe even celebrated “freedom in the hijab» in…

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