Canada: Face Veils Banned For Citizenship Oaths

MONTREAL (AP) — Canada's immigration minister says new Canadians will have to remove any face-coverings, such as the Islamic niqab or burqa, while they take the oath of citizenship. The controversial ban on these religious garments will begin immediately.

Immigration Minister Jason Kenney said Monday he's received complaints from lawmakers and citizenship judges who say it's difficult to ensure that individuals whose faces are covered are actually reciting the oath.
Kenney says it's also a question of values. He says new Canadians should be taking the oath in view of their fellow citizens. According to CBC News, he said that such a pledge is a "public declaration that you are joining the Canadian family and it must be taken freely and openly." He went on to call it "bizarre" that women were previously allowed to take oaths with face veils. CBC has more: Kenney said he doesn't accept that it's a religious obligation to wear the veil, explaining that when Muslim women perform the hajj, the pilgrimage to Mecca required by their faith, they are required not to cover their faces. "It's a cultural tradition, which I think reflects a certain view about women that we don't accept in Canada. We want women to be full and equal members of Canadian society and certainly when they're taking the citizenship oath, that's the right place to start," Kenney said in an interview on CBC News Network.

The location of the announcement was not without symbolism. The French-speaking province of Quebec has had debates over how much should Canada bend to accommodate newcomers.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Canada
• face veils
• citizenship
• religious
• oats
• burka
• hijabs
• niqabs
• islam
• muslim
• oppression
• Quran
• koran
• Montreal
• Toronto
• Vancouver
• multiculturalism
• multicultural
• immigration

[StoogeWatcher]

Islamists hate the West, but they love all those Western freedoms.

[MissCaulks]

Finally a step in the right direction: ignoring the idiocy of PCness and passing a law that has some common sense. I'm happy for Canada that they passed this ban.

[3510211]

@GTCism I am liberal when it comes to all social issues except immigration. Canada's multicultural policy will result in a complete failure. Cultural ghettoes where immigrants never actually enter mainstream Canadian culture are slowly deteriorating Canadian values. In this day and age, countries need unity not diversity. The backbone of Canada is European and I truly hope that it remains that way.

[GTCism]

Canada's got to wake up before it is to late, shut down all left wing outfits, including political parties as anti-human and dangerous to life on earth, write off the multiculturalism policy, close our borders, deport all muslims as a threat to man kind and stop this foolish religious tolerance for islam and any accomodation, most other Canadians do not want them or their evil un-holy doctrines around. I am sick of islam and want it off the earth! Evil absolute evil is islam.

[chocolatesprite]

I agree

[SkullakaAce]

If you DON'T LIKE it, THEN LEAVE! Leave the state and leave the country. Go ahead and whine about it in the middle east and see where that gets you. Maybe a few 50+ lashes on your ass and back. Or death for voicing your opinion. You came to this country, we did not invite you. And why do you come to the west, this evil demonized country?

[TobyGeralds]

@MsColdCanada  I was playing devil's advocate. Thanks for the feedback.

[MsColdCanada]

@TobyGeralds After the wedding is officiated and before signing the marriage certificate the veil is lifted. Also wedding veils are sheer so the face is still recognizable. Are you just playing devil's advocate or do you not really see the difference?

[adamcrookedsmile]

@TobyGeralds

I think marriages should be registered with some state office and during registration, no veils. Then what happens during a religious marriage ceremonies is an entirely private matter. A priest should never perform functions of a secular state.

[MrIndoCanadian]

I don't know why Canada loves this backward fucks.

[TobyGeralds]

@gabrishka21 Apparently you believe that belly dancers are the moderate and civilized balance?