Olympics-Boxing-Australia's Rahimi hopes for change in France's hijab laws

By Aadi Nair

PARIS (Reuters) - Australian boxer Tina Rahimi weighed into France's rules on secularism and athletes wearing the hijab on Saturday, saying she was saddened by the fact she could freely represent her faith while French athletes were not given the same opportunity.

Muslim French sprinter Sounkamba Sylla, part of France's 400 metres relay team, wrote on her Instagram account on Monday that her hijab - a head covering worn by many Muslim women - would prevent her from appearing in Friday's Opening Ceremony.

The French Olympic Committee said Sylla had accepted the option of wearing a cap instead of a hijab at the ceremony.

France, home to Europe's largest Muslim minority, enforces laws to protect the principle of secularism under which state employees and school pupils are banned from wearing religious symbols and clothing in public institutions.

This also applies to athletes competing for France in the Games, Sports Minister Amelie Oudea-Castera has said.

Rights groups say these rules effectively discriminate against Muslims. Foreign athletes are not affected by the secularism rules.

"It's sad, with the French rules and that whole situation," Rahimi told Reuters.

"I mean, as proud as I am to be here, I think in my heart I feel sad that I'm able to be here with my hijab and the other French athletes and people aren't."

"I still feel for the French athletes and I just hope that it can be overturned for them and they can participate and every woman can feel free in how they want to dress."

Featherweight Rahimi, who was handed a first-round bye and is due to fight on Aug. 2, is the first Muslim woman to box for Australia at the Olympics.

"It means a lot to me to be here as a representation of my faith, and to display to other women out there, in particular hijabi women, that they can participate in sport and feel welcome," the 28-year-old Rahimi added.

"I think that's really, really important. That's what everyone wants to feel, they want to go somewhere and feel like they're included and they're not being discriminated against."

(Reporting by Aadi Nair, editing by Ed Osmond)