Discrimination & “Islamophobia”

Trudeau announces Amira Elghawaby as Canada’s first representative to combat Islamophobia 'No one in our country should experience hatred because of their faith,' Trudeau says

(CBC) Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced the appointment of a special representative on combating Islamophobia that will advise the federal government on how to better fight discrimination against the Muslim community. Human rights activist Amira Elghawaby will be responsible for serving “as […]

Academics & Education

School board admits mistake using ‘Free Palestine’ as example of violence in dress code Advocates from London's Palestinian community say they were hurt to see the slogan in new guidelines

(CBC) The Thames Valley District School Board (TVDSB) is facing criticism for using the slogan “Free Palestine” as an example of a label on clothing that could incite violence. The example appeared in guidelines outlining the new dress code for students. It sparked complaints from community […]

Academics & Education

Hearings on constitutionality of Quebec’s secularism law underway in Court of Appeal Opponents of law argue government's use of notwithstanding clause to protect law goes too far

(CBC) Opponents of Quebec’s secularism law — known as Bill 21 — argued before the province’s Court of Appeal Monday that the CAQ government went too far in pre-emptively invoking the constitutional notwithstanding clause in order to protect the law from court […]

Clothing

Canadian medical journal to retract letter calling hijabs ‘an instrument of oppression’ Letter from pediatric surgeon in Canadian Medical Association Journal drew immediate pushback

(CBC) The interim editor-in-chief of the Canadian Medical Association Journal on Thursday said the publication is formally retracting a letter it ran about hijabs that many have slammed as Islamophobic. Kirsten Patrick’s announcement comes days after she posted on Twitter, apologizing for the letter, which called the religious […]

Academics & Education

Quebec’s English school boards will have to apply secularism law until court hears challenge EMSB didn't sufficiently prove how applying law would be harmful, Quebec Court of Appeal rules

(CBC) Quebec’s English school boards will have to abide by the province’s secularism law, known as Bill 21, until challenges against and in favour of the law are heard in court. The province’s Court of Appeal has rejected a request by the […]

Crime

Muslim leaders urge Ontario to adopt Our London Family Act to immediately combat Islamophobia Act includes 6 proposals to counter racism in wake of June attack on Afzaal family

(CBC) Leaders of Canada’s Muslim community are urging the Ontario government to take immediate action against Islamophobia and adopt measures they’re proposing to get to the root of “systemic discrimination.” Nadia Hasan, chief operating officer of the National Council of Canadian Muslims, on Monday discussed the […]

Academics & Education

English Montreal School Board asks court to speed up exemption from religious symbols law EMSB argues waiting for appeal process to play out is causing irreparable harm

(CBC) The English Montreal School Board was before the Quebec Court of Appeal Monday, asking for an acceleration of its exemption to Bill 21, the controversial law that prevents some civil servants in positions of authority — including teachers — from wearing religious […]

Academics & Education

Staff, students in this school board are learning about Islamophobia, but true test comes in real world Peel District School Board's strategy and mandated training seen as important 1st steps to be widely emulated

(CBC) Over the years, Nokha Dakroub has come face-to-face with racism and anti-Islamic hate during her work as a school trustee. Among the most vivid incidents were a series of meetings at her Mississauga, Ont., school board in 2017, when protesters spewed Islamophobic comments […]

Academics & Education

Peel school board approval of anti-Islamophobia strategy draws support from community groups Trustee Nokha Dakroub pushed for strategy, which includes mandatory staff training

(CBC) Community groups are welcoming a Peel District School Board decision to develop an anti-Islamophobia strategy because they say the plan will help make schools safer for Muslim staff and students. At its Sept. 30 meeting, the Peel District School Board (PDSB) passed a […]

Crime

Muslim communities worry that Islamophobic violence is being forgotten during election campaign As party leaders roll out campaign promises, the problem of racist violence seems to be flying under the radar

(CBC) Three months after all major party leaders gave emotional speeches at a vigil in London, Ontario, for the four members of the [Afzaal] family who were killed in a drive-by attack, the threat of Islamophobic violence still hasn’t emerged as an […]

Academics & Education

Quebec Superior Court upholds most of religious symbols ban, but English-language schools exempt Government plans to appeal, saying exemption will create a more divided Quebec

(CBC) Quebec’s secularism law violates the basic rights of religious minorities in the province, but those violations are permissible because of the Constitution’s notwithstanding clause, a Superior Court judge ruled on Tuesday. But the ruling by Justice Marc-André Blanchard also declared that […]

Clothing

Court ruling on Quebec’s religious symbols law expected Tuesday Bill 21 has been challenged by several groups, including the National Council of Canadian Muslims and the Canadian Civil Liberties Association.

(Montreal Gazette) A highly anticipated legal decision on Quebec’s religious symbols law is expected to be issued on Tuesday. Quebec Superior Court Justice Marc-André Blanchard heard arguments last winter for and against Bill 21, the controversial secularism law adopted by the Legault […]

Academics & Education

Thames Valley School Board to begin collecting race-based data Teachers are invited to participate in training to combat [Islamophobia] in schools

(CBC) The Thames Valley District School Board will conduct a student survey this school year, focused on identifying the ethnicities of its families. “We don’t actually have that data just yet in our board,” said board assistant principal Doriana Rosati. “I mean the entire province […]

Academics & Education

Muslim groups call for MUN to take action against ‘[Islamophobe]’ doctor and systemic racism National and provincial groups voice concern over Zachary Kuehner and MUN's response

(CBC) A letter signed by four provincial and national Muslim associations says a doctor accused of making racist comments violated several professional standards, and criticizes Memorial University’s response to the incidents. Zachary Kuehner, a second-year resident at the school, came under fire for his […]

Academics & Education

Brampton principal ‘temporarily removed’ after alleged Islamophobic remark ​Muslim group says board for Brampton, Mississauga, Caledon didn’t ‘go far enough’

(Brampton Guardian) A national Muslim organization is demanding the public school board for Peel take further action in light of alleged Islamophobic remarks made by a Brampton high school principal. On May 27, Central Peel Secondary School principal Julie DeMaeyer was “temporarily […]