Aussie boxer Tina Rahimi throws jab at hijab ban imposed on French Olympic athletes

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Aussie boxer Tina Rahimi throws jab at hijab ban imposed on French Olympic athletes

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Tina Rahimi has taken a jab at France’s imposed ban on hijabs for their Olympic athletes in a show of solidarity with her French counterparts.

Unlike *********** competitors, French ******* athletes will not be allowed to participate at the Paris Games sporting their traditional head covering due to a policy announced by French Sports Minister Amelie Oudea-Castera in September 2023.

Rahimi, 28, regularly competes in make-up, long sleeves, and a hijab and took to TikTok to voice her displeasure at the policy while admitting she felt “grateful” the same regulations didn’t apply to Aussies.

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“It’s so unfortunate for the athletes in France because it has nothing to do with performance and should not get in the way of you being an athlete,” she said.

“It’s so hard to be an Olympic athlete and to think that you have to give away your ****** to participate in these events … I believe everyone should be equal; how is my hijab going to affect anything?”

Rahimi hoped the regulations would not deter young athletes with religious backgrounds from pursuing professional sporting careers.

“People grow up wanting to go to the Olympics, and it’s all they want to achieve, which would be taking away someone’s dream.

“I standby all the French ******, and I am really, really upset that that’s something they’ve put forward.

“It’s actually really, really unfortunate.”

Camera IconAussie boxer Tina Rahimi stands in solidarity with French ******* athletes. Credit: Tina Rahimi/

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data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///ywAAAAAAQABAAACAUwAOw==Camera IconTina Rahimi feels for Fench ******* athletes who are not allowed to compete in their traditional garb. Credit: Tina Rahimi/

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The Sydney-based athlete began boxing as a hobby in 2017 and became Australia’s first ******* female Commonwealth Games boxer in 2022.

“I never thought I’d actually come to this point; to be here right now is incredible,” she said in the lead-up to the Games.

With her video garnering more than 700k views in two days and countless comments, France’s national identity shaped by “secularism” became a key conversation point.

“It’s called secularism, and it’s an important value in France. I think it’s a great thing that hijab is not allowed for French athletes,” one person commented.

“French authorities are not asking athletes to abandon their ******. As a French athlete, we consider that you represent the State and its values, which are secularism and neutrality,” another added.

While some viewers labelled the laws of French sporting governors “Islamophobic”, others implored the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to intervene.

“I don’t understand how this is a rule … can’t the Olympic Committee do something?” a confused fan asked.

data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///ywAAAAAAQABAAACAUwAOw==Camera IconTina Rahimi preparing to fly to Europe. Credit: Tina Rahimi/

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data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///ywAAAAAAQABAAACAUwAOw==Camera IconTina and her team bonding before the Paris Olympics. Credit: Tina Rahimi/

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In May 2024, Amnesty International led a host of organisations in pleading with the IOC to force French sports authorities to lift the ban in the name of equality.

The IOC admitted it did not have any authority over the regulations, responding, “Freedom of religion is interpreted in many different ways by different states.”

Despite months of campaigning and France’s pledge to deliver the first gender-equal Games, the ban ******** upheld just days before Friday’s opening ceremony on Friday, July 26.

data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///ywAAAAAAQABAAACAUwAOw==Camera IconTina Rahimi will compete in Paris. Credit: Tina Rahimi/

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