Posted on 10/27/2007 9:17:30 PM PDT by americanophile
OTTAWA (REUTERS) Muslim women in niqabs or burqas would no longer be allowed to stay veiled when voting in Canada under government legislation introduced yesterday.
The bill seeks to force the hand of Chief Electoral Officer Marc Mayrand, who rebuffed a request by a parliamentary committee that he require the lifting of veils to prove a voter's identity. He had insisted the existing law did not require it.
The new legislation would allow an exception only for someone whose face is bandaged after surgery or covered for other medical reasons.
The issue has become a hot potato, especially in the province of Quebec, which is debating how much to accommodate minorities. The provincial electoral officer in Quebec reversed course last March and required the unveiling of voters.
During a campaign for three federal seats in the province last month, all four federal parties said faces must be uncovered, but opposition Liberal Deputy Leader Michael Ignatieff was cool toward the bill in remarks yesterday.
"What I don't like, and object to, is the ways in which certain politicians are stirring this up," he told reporters outside the House of Commons.
He said the Liberals were committed to achieving a balance between religious freedom and civic duty, and that a decent society "would work out a pragmatic solution that keeps everybody happy."
The rival opposition party Bloc Quebecois, which had earlier introduced a bill similar to the Conservative government's, dismissed Mr. Ignatieff's criticism.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
The Muslim women’s demands that they not be required to unveil because they need to remain “modest” is complete b.s. They can take the burkha/hood/mask off in front of other women with no impact upon modesty. So if they’re refusing to unveil, it’s for no honest reason.
They shouldn't accommodate at all. Minorities should assimilate or leave.
burqas
UnAmerican
Lift it. Lose it. Or leave. G-d bless America. Allah has no stake in this land.
The liberal was lying, no surprise, had this been a Christian thing, the liberal would be trying to burn them at the stake to get the face uncovered. it is so easy to find ways to hate liberals even in Frog Country
Group of Canadian Soldiers might all dress in black with masks and wander around a few times.
That out to make the point, scare heck out of everyone..
Masks and hoods to hide ones identity have little place in a free society.
W
Okey dokey, but is the identification they’re using a driver’s license picture with their face covered?
If the authorities don’t push the issue...then I’d start showing up at stores, banks, and businesses....as a guy dressed in a burka...and play this entire game out. If you had a thousand guys walking around and doing this...the public would start to realize how stupid it really is, and demand “no burkas”.
Canada considers unveiling Muslim all voters, Muslims hardest hit.
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