At a meeting Thursday (February 12) in the Canadian province of Quebec Prime Minister Stephen Harper said the wearing of a niqab or any other face covering during a Canadian citizenship ceremony was “offensive”.
“I believe, and I think most Canadians believe, that is, it is offensive that someone would hide their identity at the very moment where they are committing to join the Canadian family,” the Prime Minister told the audience to applause. “We find that offensive. That is not acceptable to Canadians.”
The Prime Minister then said he would proceed with action on that. “That” is a Federal Court of Canada ruling last Friday which found that it is “unlawful” for the Canadian government to order new citizens to remove their face-covering veil when taking the oath of citizenship.
Rules requiring the lifting of a veil during a ceremony were implemented in 2011 by then Immigration Minister Jason Kenney.
In the Federal Court ruling Justice Keith M. Boswell wrote “To the extent that the policy interferes with a citizenship judge’s duty to allow candidates for citizenship the greatest possible freedom in the religious solemnization or the solemn affirmation of the oath…it is unlawful.”
More information:
Toronto Star – Niqab ban at citizenship ceremony struck down by court – here
National Post editorial – Court was right to strike down niqab ban during citizenship ceremony – here
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