Reminding the world of the bygone era when Kings used to issue diktats regarding dress to be worn, words to be spoken, prayers to be said and religions to be followed, Members of the National Assembly of Quebec have put a ban on women wearing Niqab in a clear direction to Muslim women regarding their public wear which has been protested by civil rights groups and condemned by various political parties.

In 1995, political parties in Quebec were fighting for their freedom, wanting to liberate from Canada and desirous of making Quebec a separate country. The elections were narrowly lost in a 51%-49% photo-finish, as a section of the migrants who were nearly less than 2 or 3 percent of the population voted for nationalists as against the Le Quebecois sovereignists.  Is Quebec taking it out against them or the French-speaking Gallic Canadians do not share the inclusive character of federal Canada?  

The National Assembly of Quebec has passed the Bill 62 with a 66-51 support of the members of the Liberal government, banning Muslim women from covering their faces for public work. Something is amiss here. On the one hand the people of Quebec celebrate the right to sovereignty and on the other they deny basic human rights to its citizenry.  It is really odd.  The Quebec politicians have had huge economic benefits from the federal government and their constitutional struggle is nick-named “neverendum referendum”.

The stand of the federal government seems a little weak with the Heritage Minister  Mélanie Joly saying, “We do not believe that the government should be telling people what they can and cannot wear,” As regards the legislation in question, it is a matter for the Quebec national assembly where it has been debated at length and we will not interfere.”

However, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was more forthright when he said his government was looking into the legislation. “I don’t think it’s the government’s business to tell a woman what she should or shouldn’t be wearing,” the prime minister told reporters. “As a federal government, we are going to take our responsibility seriously and look carefully at what the implications are.”

Alberta Premier Rachel Notley has reacted sharply to Quebec’s passage of bill 62 and said “it smacks of Islamophobia.”

The World Sikh Organization of Canada is disappointed by the passing of Bill 62 in Quebec’s National Assembly which forces Muslim women who wear the niqab to uncover their faces to deliver or use public services.  The ban applies to public services such as doctors, transit services and schools.

Bill 62 is the third attempt to ban the wearing of the niqab while receiving public services in Quebec.  It was proceeded by Bill 94 in 2010 and the Quebec Charter of Values in 2013, both of which failed to pass.  

WSO President Mukhbir Singh lamented,  “we are disappointed by the passing of Quebec’s so-called religious neutrality bill.  While the Sikh faith forbids the practice of veiling, we believe Muslim women have a right to wear the niqab.  Canadian law is clear that individual religious practices, as long as they are not harmful to others, must be accommodated to the point of undue hardship.  Simply feeling uncomfortable about or not agreeing with a religious practice is not reason enough to restrict it.  The wearing of the niqab should be treated no differently than any other religious observance.  Where accommodation is requested, unless an undue hardship can be established, the niqab must be accommodated.  We expect that the passing of Bill 62 will be successfully challenged in courts and overturned.”

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Benjamin Brunot, a protester, who wore a mask in the shape of a black dog’s face is reported to have told globalnews.ca, “I just hope that we stop marginalizing minorities and I think that such a law just promotes hate and intolerance. If we start with Muslim women today, tomorrow it will be another group so let’s just stop it now.