Close X
Sunday, November 24, 2024
ADVT 
National

Quebec Legislature Unanimously Approves Motion Condemning 'Islamophobia' After Muslim Woman Attacked

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 02 Oct, 2015 11:54 AM
    Quebec's legislature unanimously adopted a motion Thursday condemning "Islamophobia" — particularly toward Syrian refugees — in response to what some politicians say is a growing anti-Muslim climate in the province.
     
    About 100 members of the legislature voted in favour of the motion tabled by Francoise David, whose Quebec solidaire has three members in the 125-seat national assembly.
     
    David said she was concerned by what she called the increasing number of attacks against Muslims in Quebec, notably online.
     
    The motion condemned Islamophobia and incitement of hatred and violence toward Muslim Quebecers, in particular Syrian refugees.
     
    The governing Liberals and the two other opposition parties in the legislature attempted to amend the motion in order for it to condemn racism more generally as well as other forms of intolerance.
     
    But David told reporters she insisted the word "Islamophobia" be included in the text and that the motion focus on Muslims.
     
    "The incidents that have been multiplying over the past few weeks particularly affect Quebec's Muslims," she said. "We need to call a spade a spade."
     
    David mentioned that a pregnant woman in Montreal was allegedly accosted earlier this week by youths who knocked her to the ground and removed her veil.
     
    Montreal police said Thursday there was no evidence to suggest it was a hate crime but added the investigation is ongoing.
     
     
    Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau also weighed in on the incident.
     
    "Such acts are completely unacceptable and run counter to basic Canadian values and rights, embodied in and protected by our Charter of Rights and Freedoms," he said in a statement.
     
    "Canadian multiculturalism means a country where people from every place and culture, who speak every language, live, work, build, and thrive together."
     
    Quebec Immigration Minister Kathleen Weil told reporters the motion "is a gesture of responsibility and it's a gesture to reassure people, reassure Quebecers and newcomers and people who perhaps came a few generations ago."
     
    Absent in the motion was any mention of the niqab, the face veil worn by some Muslim women that has become a major issue in the federal election campaign, particularly in Quebec.
     
    Political parties are split over whether people should be allowed to wear the veil during citizenship ceremonies.
     
    David pleaded with her federal counterparts to stop talking about it and to focus on other topics.
     
    "We debate enough around that," she said. "We have many other things to debate. We have two weeks more (in the campaign), please debate on the environment, on social justice, on refugees."

    MORE National ARTICLES

    NDP Tables Climate Change Plan, Conservatives Criticize Trudeau Ahead Of Debate

    NDP Tables Climate Change Plan, Conservatives Criticize Trudeau Ahead Of Debate
    Two of the three major political parties tried to score domestic political points on Sunday, one day ahead of a major foreign policy debate by the leaders.

    NDP Tables Climate Change Plan, Conservatives Criticize Trudeau Ahead Of Debate

    U.S. Drug Company Challenges Ottawa's Ability To Control Patent Drug Prices

    U.S. Drug Company Challenges Ottawa's Ability To Control Patent Drug Prices
    Canada's ability to control the price of patented drug prices could be at risk after a U.S. company challenged the constitutionality of a federal patent drug price regulator.

    U.S. Drug Company Challenges Ottawa's Ability To Control Patent Drug Prices

    Man Arrives At Surrey Hospital With Gunshot Wounds, RCMP Investigating

    Man Arrives At Surrey Hospital With Gunshot Wounds, RCMP Investigating
    Sgt. Joe Johal says the 36-year-old arrived at around 3 a.m. Saturday with injuries to his lower extremities. He says the wounds are not life-threatening. 

    Man Arrives At Surrey Hospital With Gunshot Wounds, RCMP Investigating

    Hailey Dunbar-Blanchette Murder: Alberta Man Accused Of Killing Dad, Toddler, Out Of Coma

    Hailey Dunbar-Blanchette Murder: Alberta Man Accused Of Killing Dad, Toddler, Out Of Coma
    Global and CBC say unnamed sources say 22-year-old Derek Saretzky was speaking as of Friday afternoon.

    Hailey Dunbar-Blanchette Murder: Alberta Man Accused Of Killing Dad, Toddler, Out Of Coma

    Search Underway On Mackenzie River For 2 People After Capsized Canoe Found

    Search Underway On Mackenzie River For 2 People After Capsized Canoe Found
    Mounties say they received a report Wednesday that the watercraft was found about five kilometres upstream from Tsiigehtchic.

    Search Underway On Mackenzie River For 2 People After Capsized Canoe Found

    Blue Jays Clinch First Post-season Berth Since 1993 Amid Confusion

    Blue Jays Clinch First Post-season Berth Since 1993 Amid Confusion
    No matter to the Jays, who learned Saturday morning they were indeed playoff-bound. In their minds, there is more work to do so it was perhaps fitting that the celebrations will wait. 

    Blue Jays Clinch First Post-season Berth Since 1993 Amid Confusion