THE GLOBE AND MAIL – Quebec City: Unprecedented legislation requires Muslim women to show their faces in all government locations
Quebec has tabled unprecedented legislation requiring Muslim women to show their faces in all government locations, including schools, hospitals and daycares.
The controversial move by the Charest government - which has said it is committed to secularism and gender equality - marks the first time it has chosen to craft laws to accommodate minorities.
The legislation means the niqab, a full veil covering worn by some Muslim women, will essentially be barred from all government bodies, whether the woman is working for the government or receiving services.
However, public servants can continue to wear religious symbols like a cross or Star of David or even the partial veil known as the hijab worn by Muslim women - just so long as a person's face is in full view.
The bill tabled yesterday in the province's National Assembly said that face coverings of any kind won't be allowed because they disrupt personal interactions, and makes it hard to identify and communicate with people.
"Here in Quebec we receive and we give services with our face uncovered. That's an affirmation that is novel. We believe firmly that we are within the limits of the Charter of Rights," said Justice Minister Kathleen Weil.
"It's a strong, forceful piece of legislation and it's partly because it's so simple." >>> With reports from the Canadian Press and Sarah Boesveld | Thursday, March 25, 2010
THE GLOBE AND MAIL: Quebec's view on niqab creates fault line: English-speaking Canada assails province's opposition to headwear; Quebeckers respond with cries of ‘marshmallow multiculturalism' >>> With a report from Ingrid Peritz | Friday, March 19, 2010
