Hijab in sport: the executive opposes Elisabeth Moreno

The question of wearing the Islamic veil in sport divides the government. Elisabeth Moreno, Minister Delegate for Gender Equality, finds herself isolated in this affair. She claimed on LCI that women had the right to wear the Islamic veil to play on a football pitch. His remarks come following a series of demands by the collective “Les Hijabeuses”, a group of female footballers who are fighting to repeal the regulations of the French Football Federation. The latter prohibits the wearing of religious symbols during competitions. The position of the minister responsible for gender equality is not that of the entire government.

The executive disagrees with the minister

Visibly embarrassed, government spokesman Gabriel Attal corrected the situation this morning on Europe 1. While assuring that Elisabeth Moreno’s position did not reflect that of the government, Gabriel Attal tried to come to the aid of the minister: “She clarified her words. You don’t even need me to do it. She regretted the instrumentalization that had been made of this subject and she returned to her remarks,” he said. A clarification, or a backpedal, which were not enough to appease the spirits. Marlène Schiappa, Minister Delegate for Citizenship, also stepped up: “The government has always been in favor of banning religious symbols during matches,” she assured.

Faced with the wave of indignation in the opposition and on social networks, the executive therefore distances itself from the demands of the collective “Les Hijabeuses”. The controversy comes at the time of the examination of a bill relating to the democratization of sport by the Parliament. Senators and deputies disagree on the question of the ban on wearing the veil during competitions. For the moment, the government remains vague about its intentions.