Ibtihaj Muhammad and representatives of her sponsors, Nike, criticized French attitudes to the hijab
The Nike hijab provoked a sturdy reaction in France
PARIS: American Olympic fencer Ibtihaj Muhammad and representatives of her sponsors, Nike, criticized French attitudes to the veil on a promotional go to the united states.
Muhammad turned into attending an extended-planned event in Paris at which American sports clothing brand released their strips for 14 countries, such as the hosts, in the women’s World Cup in France this summer season.
In February, the American sports clothing company was embroiled in a problem while retailer Decathlon withdrew sports activities Nike’s hijab from its French stores after following threats.
“I’ll be in my @Nike pro-hijab every rattling day,” Muhammad, who in 2016 became the primary American to compete in a hijab within the Games, tweeted before traveling to France.
“It’s sad to me that France has not joined the worldwide conversation around inclusively, around the range. To prohibit a company from promoting a recreation hijab is shameful,” the Olympic bronze medallist instructed AFP on Monday.
“I think that it hurts a great deal greater than it helps your nation right here.”
Bert Hoyt, a Nike vice president, said the organization has been searching ahead to France’s World Cup.
“Our goal is to provide the access for all girls to have the possibility to play sport and to play girls’ soccer,” he said.
“We believe that we’re at the start of an adventure, and we trust that the World Cup in June will be a tipping factor for the destiny of the ladies’ sport.”
The Nike hijab provoked a strong reaction in France.
A spokeswoman for President Emmanuel Macron’s centrist party, Aurore Berge, stated the sports activities hijab goes against French “values.”
Lydia Guirous of the center-right Republicans stated it went hand in hand with “the submission of women.”
Muhammad disagreed.
“I think you’re no longer a feminist if you agree that wearing a hijab isn’t always a choice,” she stated. “Anyone who believes in character rights, freedom of choice, have to help girls who select to put on it.
“It’s no longer your preference. It ought to be our desire.
“And absolutely everyone who sees a hassle with that does not belong in sport, because recreation is an area that it imagined being consisting of every person, no longer remember wherein you’re from, your sexual orientation, your religion, your pores and skin coloration, your gender, it doesn’t remember,” she stated.
In the French authorities, simplest Sports Minister Roxana Maracineanu supported the sale of the hijab.
“I want to go and get ladies, mothers, ladies anywhere they are and as they’re, to encourage them to practice recreation, due to the fact its miles, I am convinced, a powerful lever of emancipation,” Maracineanu said.
Muhammad’s hijab isn’t visible as soon as she dons her fencing mask.
“I do no longer necessarily need a sports activities hijab to exercise the sport I’m doing. However, I understand it has made my lifestyle easier,” she said.
“I hope it’s going to assist women all around the world to be greater incorporated by using being energetic. There are such a lot of stereotypes and awful perceptions that exist approximately the Muslim network,” she said.
