Saturday, December 31, 2011

Canada bars women in veil from taking citizenship oath – The Pioneer – 14.12.11


Wom e n   a s p i r  i n g   f o r C anadi an  c it i z en ship have been barred from wearing burqa or Islamic   ijab  when they take oath of citizenship, I m m i g  r a t  i o n M i  n i s t e r   J a s  o n Kenney said. The  ove was announced by the Minister on Monday, who said it was necessary as women with face  overings  ould not be fully identified a t   c e r e m o n i e s   t o s w e  a r - i n   n e  w   citizens, the Montreal Gazette reported. The ban has trigg e  r e  d   w i d e s p r e  a d concerns among the Islamic community  ere as they fear that it could lead to similar ban in other settings. Canada has now joined countries like  rance, Belgium, Australia and Netherlands who have banned women from covering their face in public.  N Australia, the ban has been imposed in only two states. The Immigration Minister said that there were  isgivings about covering of faces by women. He said the feelings were that new citizens should t a k e   o                         v i e  w   o f   o t  h e r   fellow citizens. Kenny said he had received complaints from lawmakers and  udges who said that they found it difficult to know whether indiv idua  l s  who masked their faces were  ctually reciting the oath or not. The conservative Minister said t  h e   i s s u e   w e  n t d e  e p   i n t o   t                      of   C  an a d a’s   i d e nt it y   a s   a nation valued its openness and equality. The Gazette quoted Salam Elmenyawi, head of the Muslim C  o u n c i  l   o f   Mo n t  r e  a l ,   a s labelling the ban an attempt by the conservative Government to divide Canadian Muslim.

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