OTTAWA — The Muslim Canadian Congress is calling on the Conservative government to follow France’s proposal to consider a ban on the burka.
“It’s a control thing, identifying with Muslim brotherhood,” senior vice-president Salma Siddiqui said. “Basically it is a subservient tool.”
She said “political correctness” is preventing politicians from tackling the sensitive subject. Her group plans to lobby politicians from all parties in May.
But Liberal MP Marlene Jennings said Canada’s charter rights protect religious freedom, and the Supreme Court has consistently ruled not to impose any limits.
“Canadian women have the right, if they want, to wear a burka,” she said. “As a woman, clearly it makes me a little uncomfortable. But then there are other practices that are perfectly legal and acceptable that make people uncomfortable.”
Jennings said the government should do more to raise awareness about gender equality in Canada, but ultimately it must remain an individual choice on how to behave in one’s personal life.
The controversy comes after France issued a report proposing a partial ban on the burka and niqab. The report says the wearing of a full veil represents “everything France rejects” as a symbol of enslavement of women and extremist fundamentalism.
Nathalie Des Rosiers, general counsel for the Canadian Civil Liberties Association, said Canada must send strong messages about equality of women but reject calls to follow France’s lead.
“It goes without saying they should not be subjected to pressures from their communities, but neither from their government,” she said. “It’s not the place of the government to dictate how women should dress.”
kathleen.harris@sunmedia.ca
