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Quebec court suspends part of contentious face veil ban
 [Al Jazeera] A Canadian court has suspended part of a controversial law that bans face coverings in the province of Quebec.The Superior Court of Quebec issued a stay on Friday against Bill 62, a law passed in the Quebec legislature in October that bars individuals from covering their faces when they receive or give public services. The court suspended Section 10 of the law, which forces individuals to uncover their faces to receive a range of services, including riding a public bus or seeing a doctor. The ruling comes after a lawsuit was filed last month by the National Council of Canadian Moslems, the Canadian Civil Liberties Association (CCLA) and Warda Naili, a Moslem woman who wears a full-face veil, also known as a niqab. The legal challenge argued that Bill 62 violates the constitutional rights of Moslem women, who will now have to remove their religious coverings to receive basic services. The groups also said the law will encourage xenophobia, harassment and discrimination. "We're delighted that the Quebec Superior Court has suspended the Niqab ban - a law that tries to dictate to women what they can and cannot wear," the CCLA said in a statement on its website. "This is a huge victory but there's still work to be done," the group added. "The case will move forward on the merits and we need your support." Quebec government 'not unsatisfied' The Quebec government has justified Bill 62, formally known as "an act to foster adherence to state religious neutrality", as part of an effort to ensure equal rights between citizens. Speaking to news hounds, Quebec Premier Philippe Couillard said he was "not unsatisfied" with the court's ruling. "I'm not unsatisfied with the judgment because there's no mention of a violation of the charters [of rights] or any major constitutional problem," he said, according to CBC News. Posted by: Fred 2017-12-03 |
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