Quebec plans to expand ban on religious symbols in schools
The Canadian province of Quebec plans to widen its ban on religious symbols in public schools.
The Bill 94, if passed, will bar students, volunteers, and support staff from wearing items such as headscarves, Sikh turbans, Christian crosses, and Jewish kippahs.
The existing law restricts teachers from wearing religious symbols.
Education Minister Bernard Drainville said the move reinforces the separation of religion and state in public schools.
But the National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM) strongly opposes the bill.
The organization calls it a renewed attack on fundamental rights, especially targeting hijab-wearing Muslim women.
NCCM is challenging the earlier secularism law in the Supreme Court.
It believes the Quebec government is using Muslim Canadians as scapegoats to boost popularity.
In a social media post, NCCM said: “This is the most important civil liberties battle in our lifetime”.
The bill comes after 17 schools were found to have violated the current law, which also requires yearly reviews for teachers and enforces strict French-only communication in French-language schools.
Quebec says French is the province’s official language.
The bill has sparked a national debate over religious freedom, equality, and identity in Canada.
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