French Supreme Court Upholds Hijab Ban in Football Matches

The French Administrative Supreme Court today upheld the ban on wearing the hijab during football matches, a decision contrary to the demands of a group of Muslim female footballers in their lawsuit against the French Football Federation. The court stated that the Council of State ruled that "the ban imposed by the federation is appropriate and proportionate." It added that "sports federations may require their players to adhere to neutrality in attire during competitions." France, which has one of the largest Muslim minorities in Europe, enforces laws aimed at protecting its strict model of secularism, which President Emmanuel Macron stated "is threatened by Islamists."