Positive Solace with Attika Choudhary
In March 2020, the UK went into lockdown as did most of the world. As people reached out to Attika, about feeling anxious and confused, she wanted to do something helpful and the “Positive Solace” podcasts were born. Mental health has been her concern for some years and this led to the creation of a team which would make it happen.
Hosted by BBC’s Attika Choudhary, Positive Solace is a podcast that will empower your mind, spread positivity and wisdom. The guests are from different backgrounds, cultures, experience and learning. In their own, unique way they are doing what they can to help their community overcome the challenges and lead people to a better place. The conversations are not scripted: they are raw and show vulnerability and create a place where these voices can empower us all. So come join us as we laugh, get emotional and travel the world!
Positive Solace with Attika Choudhary
Football Hijabis Tackle Prejudice with Les Hijabeuses
In the latest episode of Positive Solace: Women of Vision, Attika chats to Founé Diawara and Leïla Kellou, who are members of Les Hijabeuses, a collective of women who are campaigning against the French Football Federation (FFF)’s ban on the wearing of a hijab in official matches and international games.
Despite FIFA, the world governing body of football lifting their ban on hijabs in 2014, the FFF have stood fast, citing that the sport must comply with Laïcité, (secularism), which is derived from a traditional policy of separation between church and state in France, but has since been taken to mean that the state should be neutral to all religions.
France’s estimated 5.7 million Muslims face a torrid time of further stigmatisation and oppression from extremist groups - There is continuing controversy over the national ban on full-face veils in France which was first imposed in 2011, and more recently there has been an amendment to a controversial 'anti-separatism' bill which includes a ban on women under the age of 18 wearing the hijab in public places, sparking a backlash and a protest under the hashtag #HandsOffMyHijab that went viral.
Founé was just 15 when she was first told by a referee that she could not participate in a football match due to her choosing to wear a hijab.
Now 21 and the co-president of Les Hijabeuses, the pair play football together, connect with other teams across France and put on training sessions to encourage other young hijab-wearing women to get into football.
Leïla originally comes from an Algerian family that has a passion for the game. She has also been denied the right to participate in games, and wants the next generation of young women to enjoy the sport without the fear of exclusion.
Founé and Leïla converse with Attika about their experiences both on and off the field. They discuss how they are dealing with the recent political decisions by the French Senate, their campaign for a more inclusive French society, regardless of religion or race, their love for the beautiful game and their vision for a more inclusive sport in France is truly something to behold.
You can find out more about the Les Hijabeuses by following the group on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leshijabeuses/
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