(AFP) French Muslim basketball player Diaba Konate Tuesday said she had hoped to represent her country at the Paris Olympics but did not stand a chance because she wears a headscarf.
“Despite my desire and skills, I’m … not actually allowed to play for France because of discriminatory policies,” the 24-year-old said during a press conference organised by rights groups to urge France to overturn bans on the Muslim headscarf in sport.
“It’s very frustrating to be excluded from representing my home country … simply because of my religious identity,” said the athlete who has played on France’s national youth team and has a career in college basketball in the United States.
