Adi Nehru
PARIS (Reuters) – Australian boxer Tina Rahimi spoke out on Saturday about France's secularism and rules on athletes wearing the hijab, saying it was a shame she was free to express her faith but French athletes were not given the same opportunity.
French sprinter Sounkamba Sylla, who is Muslim and part of France's 400-meter relay team, posted on her Instagram account on Monday that she would be unable to take part in Friday's opening ceremony because of the hijab that many Muslim women wear.
The French Olympic Committee said Sylla had accepted the option to wear a hat instead of a hijab for the ceremony.
France, which has Europe's largest Muslim minority, has laws enshrining secularism, banning civil servants and school pupils from wearing religious symbols or clothing in public institutions.
This also applies to athletes competing for France at the Olympic Games, Sports Minister Amélie Oudea Castellas said.
Human rights groups claim these rules are effectively discriminatory against Muslims. Foreign players are not affected by the secular rules.
“It's sad given the French rules and the overall situation,” Rahimi told Reuters.
“So I'm proud to be here but at the same time I think deep down I feel a bit sad that I can be here wearing the hijab and other French players and people can't.”
“I still sympathize with the French athletes and hope that the verdict will be overturned in their favour so that they can take part and all women can be free to wear what they want.”
Rahimi, a featherweight, has been exempted from the first round and is scheduled to fight on August 2, becoming the first Muslim woman to box for Australia at the Olympics.
“It means a lot to me to be here representing my faith and showing other women, especially those who wear the hijab, that they can take part in sport and feel welcome,” Rahimi, 28, added.
“I think that's really, really important. Everybody wants to feel that way. They want to go somewhere and feel like they're accepted and they're not being discriminated against.”
(Reporting by Adi Nair and Ed Osmond Editing by
