In response to recent calls to ban the niqab (face veil) in Canada, a wide coalition of mainstream Canadian Muslim organizations in conjunction with Canadian Islamic scholars issued a statement today reaffirming the freedom of religion and conscience in Canada.

The statement read as follows:

“The recent calls to ban the niqab (face veil) in Canada are misplaced and contravene the fundamental principles of our free and democratic society. All Canadians, whether Muslim or not, are guaranteed by the Charter of Rights and Freedoms the freedom of religion and conscience. The state has no business in the wardrobes of the nation.

“Therefore, if a segment of Canadian Muslim women believe that wearing the niqab is part of their religious practice, then they must be allowed to freely do so. The principle must be extended to all religious practices, provided the practice does not infringe upon the fundamental rights of others.

“The marginalization of Muslim women must be countered with public education and anti-discrimination efforts, not with the state’s dictation on how one may dress, which only serves to further marginalization instead.”

The statement was signed by the Canadian Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-CAN), the Canadian Council Of Muslim Theologians (CCMT), the Canadian Council of Imams, the Canadian Islamic Congress (CIC), the Canadian Muslim Civil Liberties Association (CMCLA), the Canadian Muslim Women’s Institute (CMWI) and 20 other groups.   »»» CAIR-Canada

The call for a government ban on the face veil was made recently by a small splinter group called the Muslim Canadian Congress (MCC), which styles itself as the voice of “progressive” Muslims. The press coverage given to their position will cause some people to think the MCC reflects majority Muslim thought in Canada. In fact, while a very small number of Muslims think the face veil is an obligation, and while some Muslims think wearing it should be discouraged, most Muslims think the decision to wear or not to wear the face veil is a personal decision of each Muslim woman. The government should not be in the business of dictating clothing choices to women. Forcing a woman to put aside a face veil is just as morally repugnant as forcing an unwilling women to wear one.

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