This article contesting the bill to ban women from wearing the niqab in Quebec on legal grounds is worth a read. Surprised Ignatieff is supporting this considering his international experience and assumed understanding of the need to protect religious rights and diversity.
i’m against completely banning the niqab, but to be fair, the proposed law doesn’t want to ban it, but rather restrict it’s use. whether the situations in which it is proposed to ban it are valid is up for debate (i haven’t decided myself if i think they’re valid yet, in any case)
While it is a ban for accessing primarily public services while wearing a niqab / no niqab in any government position, I am surprised by Canadians’ reactions. If it is the issue of gender equality, a better option, I think, would be to provide more support to groups helping Muslim women deal with oppressive environments (should that be why they wear the niqab). Canada exercising this “moral authority” over someone’s religion, whether it is by informed choice or cultural pressure, is shameful. On a technical level (ie. national security), if you look through the article there is mention of how Ontario deals with this issue which seems a better compromise that doesn’t hamper Canadians’ constitutional right to practice their religion and access public services. Anyways, having worked in areas where the niqab is widely worn, I would assume that many women are going to feel offended. I would. Thankfully, it’s not down to our personal opinions but rather the right to practice religion freely in Canada which, in its current state, it does not seem to Bill allows.