Olympics: Overturning decision to disqualify athletes for speech

(NYON) – The disqualification of Olympic breakdancer Maniza Tarash for promoting gender equality should be overturned and corrected. Sports and Rights Alliance Today. Talash Afghanistan refugee The breaker known as “b-girl Talash” is Disqualification On August 9, she was disqualified from the breakdancing competition at the 2024 Paris Olympics for wearing a cloak with the words “Free Afghan Women” printed on it.

The coalition said the International Olympic Committee (IOC) should stop using Article 50 of the Olympic Charter to punish athletes who defend universal values ​​such as equality, inclusion and respect. The Olympic movement’s sports governing body has long used Article 50 to sanction athletes who champion social justice and human rights causes. In some cases, these sports governing bodies later acknowledged and congratulated these athletes for their advocacy.

“When athletes speak out for justice and equality, they are human rights defenders who deserve protection and solidarity,” Genos AlfordDirector of Sports and Human Rights World Players Association. “The 2024 Paris Olympics bills itself as the first ‘gender equal’ Games, so the punishment of an Olympic refugee team member for promoting gender equality during the Games is shocking. This case shows how Rule 50 jeopardizes athletes’ right to free expression, and how its inconsistent application creates further concerns and confusion for athletes who are human rights defenders.”

Tarash, a 21-year-old Afghan girl competing for the Olympic refugee team, was disqualified from the competition during prequalification on August 9. She fled Afghanistan in 2021 after her team received threats and was forced to train at home due to deteriorating conditions under Taliban rule. Tarash, who now lives in Spain, “was given Special berths The IOC said it was “part of an effort to draw attention to the estimated 100 million forcibly displaced people around the world”.

“As the Taliban mark the third anniversary of their coming to power, the women’s rights crisis is the worst in the world. As a result, 20 million women and girls in Afghanistan are still suffering. All female athletes are still banned from participating in sports, and the Taliban refuses to lift the ban on women’s sports,” he said Freeba RezayeShe was one of Afghanistan’s first two female Olympians and Future Women Leaders“Given that all three women on the Afghan Olympic national team — and two of the three men — are in exile, Tarash should not be disqualified for simply calling for women’s basic human rights.”

this World DanceSport FederationBreakdance governing body in Lausanne explain Tarrasch was disqualified for “displaying a political slogan on his clothing, in violation of Article 50 of the Olympic Charter”. Due to his failure in the prequalification, Tarrasch would not have been able to advance to the next round even if he had not been disqualified.

“Afghan women’s freedom is a human rights issue and a universal cause that everyone at the Olympics should support,” Kalida PopalFormer captain of the Afghan women’s national football team and current executive director of the exiled Afghan women’s national football team Girl Power“If sport is to embody the values ​​of dignity, peace and respect for human rights enshrined in the Olympic Charter, then Maniza Tarash should be honoured for her courage.”

What has the Taliban created since taking power in Afghanistan in 2021? Human Rights Watch calls for Banning girls and women from secondary and higher education, violating women’s right to freedom of movement, prohibiting women from engaging in many forms of employment, and prohibiting women and girls from participating in sports have created “the world’s worst women’s rights crisis.”

“Athletes will not give up their human rights while competing, including speaking out for women’s rights,” Minky WardenDirector of Global Initiatives at Human Rights Watch. “Maniza Tarash has already experienced discrimination and hardship for being an Afghan woman, and her statement at the Paris Olympics is consistent with the Olympic Charter’s recognition of the importance of human rights.”

Talash is a human rights defender. Cultural rights defender She is also an athlete, the league said. Statement on Instagram After being disqualified, Talash also issued a statement in support of the athletes, e.g. Basketball for AllOpposes French sports ban on headscarves and celebrates breakdancing’s counterculture origins. International human rights standards Protecting human rights defenders like Tarash. The role of non-state actors in protecting human rights defenders can be found in the following documents: Guide to Swiss Human Rights Defenders 2019It is awarded by the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, where the International Olympic Committee and the World DanceSport Federation are headquartered.

“Maneza Tarash’s courageous and powerful statement at the Olympics comes three years after the Taliban took control of Afghanistan and began suppressing the voices and aspirations of the country’s women,” Samira HamidiAmnesty International South Asia Campaigner. “Now more than ever, we need to hear and amplify the voices of Afghan women on every stage and every platform, including the Olympics. No one can be ‘neutral’ in the face of this systemic discrimination and no athlete should be condemned simply for supporting Olympic values ​​of gender equality.”

The Sport and Rights Alliance’s mission is to promote the rights and well-being of those most affected by human rights risks associated with sporting events. Its partners include Amnesty International, Survivor Corps, Committee to Protect Journalists, European football supporters, Human Rights Watch, ILGA World (International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex Association)this International Trade Union Confederationand World Players Association, UNI Global LeagueAs a global alliance of leading NGOs and trade unions, the Sport and Rights Alliance works together to ensure that sport bodies, governments and other relevant stakeholders build a sporting world that protects, respects and fulfils international standards on human rights, labour rights, child well-being and protection, and anti-corruption.