Woman at heart of niqab debate slams Harper

Mayor John Tory says he believes the ongoing debate over allowing new Canadians to wear a niqab during citizenship ceremonies is “corrosive” and goes against Canada’s tradition of embracing diversity.

She attributed much of that misinformation to the Conservative government, accusing Prime Minister Stephen Harper of turning her personal choice into a national vote-getting strategy. But fearing a mob of protesters, she is not sharing the details of when and where she will do it.

The Conservative party did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The legislation that Harper is referring to is Quebec’s Bill 62, which contains measures that would forbid both public employees and Canadians from wearing the niqab in offices run by that province’s government.

But in an interview in her lawyer’s office in downtown Toronto Thursday, Ishaq said she found the furor over her choice to wear the niqab confusing and distressing and she accused the Conservative Party of exploiting the issue for electoral gain.

Twakkal says most Muslim women who wear a niqab in Canada do so of their own volition.

A leader in London’s Muslim community is speaking out about his concerns with the direction of the federal election.

The niqab controversy stems from a 2011 government policy banning new Canadians from wearing face coverings while taking their citizenship oaths. The number 1 reason for supporting the ban (29 per cent), however, was so the women could be identified – which they already are, before the ceremony, no matter what they’re wearing when they swear allegiance to the Queen of Canada.

“I don’t think you can use that kind of thing to discredit a few kind of legitimate political debate”, Harper answered.

He doubled down on the issue in a recent interview, telling CBC his government would consider banning niqabs across the public service if re-elected. She taught English language for two years at a high school in Pakistan before moving to Canada in 2008 with her husband, a chemical engineer.

“All my family were totally against it.”

The debate has contributed to unfair stereotypes about the Muslim community, she said, adding she takes exception to claims that the niqab is a symbol of female repression that is forced upon poorly educated women being dominated by their male family members.

Harper has said his party’s views on the niqab are in line with the majority of Canadians’.

“When we are there and we are talking with them, there has never, ever been any difficulty to communicate with us and they have no negative attitude toward us”. And last week, a judge shot down another, last minute, appeal, clearing the way for Ishaq to be sworn in as a Canadian citizen before the election on the October. 19. Her father has been a much stronger supporter of her as a woman than the government has been, she said.

“They should be concerned about the issues of the country, the real issues like job loss and the refugee crisis”, she said.