Egyptian beach volleyball duo Marwa Abdelhady and Doaa Elghobashy have sparked a global conversation about religious freedom and sports attire after competing in the Paris Olympics while wearing hijabs, long sleeves, and leggings. Their choice to dress modestly, in contrast to the bikini-clad athletes, has highlighted France’s controversial ban on “ostensible religious symbols” in sports.
The Egyptian athletes expressed their disapproval of the French rule in an interview with Expressen, a Swedish affiliate of CNN. Abdelhady stated that she “doesn’t like” the ban, while Elghobashy emphasized the importance of respecting diverse cultures and religions. “I want to play in my hijab, she wants to play in a bikini,” Elghobashy said. “Everything is OK, if you want to be naked or wear a hijab. Just respect all different cultures and religions.”
France’s strict secularism laws have been a subject of debate for years. In 2022, the French senate passed a law prohibiting the wearing of hijabs and other religious symbols in sports competitions, a decision that was later extended to include French athletes participating in the Paris Olympics.
The Egyptian players’ bold stance has ignited a broader discussion about the balance between religious expression, cultural identity, and sporting regulations. As the world watches the Paris Olympics, this issue is likely to continue to generate headlines and provoke strong opinions.
