Egyptian Volleyball Team Criticizes France's Hijab Ban

The Egyptian women's beach volleyball team, consisting of Marwa Abdelhady and Doaa Elghobashy, has publicly condemned France's ban on hijabs for athletes after competing in the 2024 Paris Olympics. They wore hijabs and long-sleeved attire during their match against Spain, while the Spanish team wore bikinis. Abdelhady and Elghobashy emphasized the importance of respecting diverse cultural and religious attire choices, stating that athletes should be free to dress as they please. This ban, rooted in France's principle of secularism, was confirmed to apply to French athletes, leading to criticism from various human rights organizations, including Amnesty International. Elghobashy, who made history as the first Arab woman to compete in beach volleyball at the Olympics, highlighted that the focus should be on athletic performance rather than clothing. Their statements have sparked discussions around cultural respect and the rights of Muslim athletes in sports.