The “niqab ban” has returned to the political debate in Canada. Only it’s not really a ban on the niqab; it’s a prohibition on any form of face-covering in citizenship ceremonies. The fact that only Muslims will likely be affected by it — how many people will want to wear ski masks or motorcycle helmets when taking the oath? — is incidental: the law is non-discriminatory.
Except, of course, that treating Muslims the same as all other citizens is considered by them to be “discrimination”. And their allies on the progressive Left are in increasing agreement with them: to insist that Muslims follow the same rules as everyone else is prima facie “discriminatory”.
In the following video, Brian Lilley of TheRebel.media talks about the face-covering issue and all the dishonesty and obfuscation that surrounds it:
Below are excerpts from a CBC report on the same issue:
‘Niqab ban’ returns as Conservative bill planned for Parliament’s final days
Multiculturalism Minister Tim Uppal and Infrastructure Minister Denis Lebel told reporters Wednesday that the Harper government would soon introduce new legislation to ban face-coverings at citizenship ceremonies.
With just days to go before Parliament rises for the summer — and MPs shift into election campaign mode — Multiculturalism Minister Tim Uppal says the Harper government has a last-minute bill coming to ban face coverings at citizenship ceremonies.
The Quebec government introduced legislation Wednesday to enshrine religious neutrality in provincial institutions, including a requirement for people giving or receiving provincial government services to have their faces uncovered. The law would mean some Muslim women, for example, could not choose to wear their niqabs in this context.
“We broadly support Quebec’s legislation regarding the uncovering of faces for giving and receiving public services,” Uppal told reporters after the Conservative caucus met on Parliament Hill.
“Our government will be moving forward in the coming days with legislation with respect to the face coverings at citizenship ceremonies, and we will consider what other measures may be necessary,” the minister said.
His colleague, Infrastructure Minister Denis Lebel, who represents a Quebec riding, told reporters the Conservative government is analyzing other possible measures in the future, but acknowledged that the federal bill would not go as far as Quebec’s for the time being.
When asked if this proposal was Islamophobic, Uppal said absolutely not.
“We’ve been very clear that… regarding citizenship ceremonies, at a time when people are pledging allegiance to this country, when they’re joining the Canadian family, we find that Canadians expect that anyone joining the Canadian family at that time would have their face uncovered,” he said.
In late 2011, then-immigration minister Jason Kenney issued a directive for citizenship judges to force Muslim women to remove their niqabs or any other face-covering garments, such as burkas, before they can recite the oath of citizenship to become Canadians.
That ban was struck down by a Federal Court judge in February, in a case brought by Zunera Ishaq, who argued that female officials could easily take her oath in private, and that the law doesn’t require that people be “seen” taking it.
All that’s needed, the judge agreed, is for citizenship applicants to sign a form saying they’ve taken the oath. The ban was inconsistent with the duty given to citizenship judges, the Federal Court ruled.
The decision sparked strong public and political reaction and a sharp rebuke from Prime Minister Stephen Harper, who told a Victoriaville, Que., audience days later the federal government would appeal the ruling.
“I believe, and I think most Canadians believe, that it is offensive that someone would hide their identify at the very moment where they are committing to join the Canadian family,” Harper said in February. “This is a society that is transparent, open and where people are equal.”
[…]
Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau also condemned the appeal.
But the Bloc Québécois supported the ban, targeting a controversial ad at Quebecers who voted NDP in 2011.
Hat tip: Vlad Tepes.
If this ban is shot down then absolutely everyone taking the oath should be encouraged to wear a ski mask just to make a point.
Exactly. Everyone should wear face coverings and everyone should be encouraged to freely speak or freely draw anything–about any religion–whilst covered.
Canadians have free speech only while covered. New rule. Also anyone can leave any religion whilst covered.
We need to all convulse in laughter and extend our middle fingers toward Mecca.
And why would the country want a person to become a citizen if she wants to cover her face? And would such a person really be loyal to the country anyway?
Hi Malcolm… We don’t expect them to obey our rules, or be loyal, or to be treated equally…. These gold nuggets muslims were invited to come here. The reason only is known to our ingenious, elected geniuses.
Well it will be pointless to ask how so many armed ISIS got to be able to fan out across the country and create such death, havoc and destruction within such a short period of time. Must have been open borders and lots of fifth column kinda help. Just one scenario I am imagining. Freedom of imagining.
Once again we see the Federal court finding any perverted reason they can think of to side with the muslims; well at least they’re consistent. So are Trudeau and Mulcair who also sided with the judge–against the wishes of the vast majority of Canadians.
I do so miss SUN News, but happily Brian, Ezra and some of ‘the gang’ have managed to form The Rebel to keep us up to speed.