NCCM, CCLA turning to Court of Appeal to suspend Quebec’s school prayer ban

The National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM) and the Canadian Civil Liberties Association (CCLA) say they are continuing to challenge Quebec’s school prayer ban.

“We cannot stand for a situation where Quebec students are being bullied and subjected to a regime at school where kids will be watched and surveilled to see if they are trying to pray,” says Stephen Brown, Chief Executive Officer of NCCM in a statement. “The denial of Charter rights to any child is appalling. No student should have to hide to pray.”

In April, Education Minister Bernard Drainville formally banned all religious activities in schools, vocational training centers and adult education centers.

Under the directive, all institutions governed by the Education Act will have to ensure that “no place is used, in fact or in appearance, for religious practices such as overt prayers or other similar practices.”

The NCCM and CCLAA filed a legal challenge of the decree.

Later in June, the ban on prayer rooms in Quebec schools was upheld by the Superior Court.

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RELATED:

• Quebec judge upholds government’s ban on prayer rooms in schools
• Bernard Drainville issues directives banning religious practices in public schools
• Muslim advocacy group asks Quebec court to suspend school prayer ban

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Both the NCCM and CCLA are turning to the Quebec Court of Appeal to review the court decision and are requesting a suspension of the ban.

“Every day that the school prayer ban is in effect, Quebec students continue to be harmed,” says Harini Sivalingam, Equality Program Director at the CCLA in a statement. “The government cannot continue to suppress the rights of religious minorities and we will stand up for the rights and freedoms of Quebec students impacted by this decision.”