Decathlon offers a race hijab, then gives up the controversy

After two days of controversy between political leaders, the brand has given up marketing the product.

Decathlon sports shop decision to market in France a hijab (Muslim veil) for running caused, Monday, February 25 and Tuesday, February 26, the anger of several political figures. To the point that the sports brand has finally announced Tuesday night on RTL, its decision to "do not market this product in France."

Some politicians have denounced an attack on the image of women and the values of France.

Others felt that the wearing of this racing veil was illegal in public places, this second argument being based on a misinterpretation of laws or a lack of knowledge of the hijab.

Confusions around the hijab

"French society is a society that, in its tradition, in its way of being, in its identity, refuses to cover the face and the human body to excess," said Tuesday, February 26 the president of the MoDem , François Bayrou, on BFM-TV.

An argument also noted by former Environment Minister Corinne Lepage, who said on Twitter, about this race hijab:

"It is shameful and I remind you that the law prohibits hiding the face. Decathlon will lose more customers than it will win. "

However, if the fact of hiding his face in the public space is prohibited since the law of 11 October 2010, the sports hijab, covers neither the face nor the body and is not targeted.