What happened: Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’ office says that he has not “closed the door” on legal action against a Quebec law that costed a 3rd grade teacher, Fatemah Anvari her job last week due to her hijab. One of her students termed the transfer as “unfair” in a hand-drawn card posted online by human rights advocate Amira Elghawaby.
Details: Ms.Fatemeh in Chelsea, Quebec was transferred to a different position due to a Quebec law that prohibits public sector employees in positions of authority from wearing religious symbols. Since then the Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau has been inundated with phone calls and emails. The law: The law was introduced in 2019 in the mostly French-speaking province of Quebec, to maintain “laicite” – secularism. The bill was partially upheld by a Quebec court this spring and has been criticized for discriminating against Muslims, Sikhs and Jews. During a federal election debate in September, party leaders demanded an apology after the moderator called it ‘discriminatory’. The Canadian PM: “No one should ever lose their job in Canada because of what they wear or their religious beliefs,” Trudeau’s office said in an email. “We have not ruled out the possibility of making representation in court in the future,” it added. On Thursday, Inclusion and Diversity Minister Ahmed Hussen told reporters that asking the federal government if it plans to oppose the two-year-old law was “premature.” The Canadian Civil Liberties Association, the National Council of Canadian Muslims filed documents in support of their case before an appeals court which is expected to hear it next year.