Muslim Community of Montreal dismayed over banning of religious instruction in Quebec daycare centres

December 17, 2010
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Montreal, Quebec, December 17th, 2010- The Muslim Council of Montreal (MCM) expressed its strong discontent today over Family Minister Yolande James’s announcement to ban most forms of religion in all government subsidized daycare centres in Quebec.

“Such a law is clearly in violation of the freedoms granted to us in our constitution and in the Quebec Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms, both in letter and spirit,” stated Salam Elmenyawi, president of MCM. “We view it as explicit discrimination against the rights of religious communities to educate their children in the values and principles they hold dear.”

Furthermore, MCM welcomes a united front to confront the Quebec government’s ban.

According to documents released by the Family Department, the ban will take effect starting next June. It is estimated there are about 20 daycare centres in the province that include religious instruction in their educational programs and receive public funding.

 

CONTACT:

Salam Elmenyawi

Muslim Council of Montreal (MCM)

Ph.: (514) 748-8427

E-mail:   info@muslimcouncil.org

Website: http://www.muslimcouncil.org

 

The Muslim Council of Montreal (MCM) is an umbrella organization representing a number of Islamic institutions in the Montreal region. There are over 225,000 Muslims in Montreal, about 1,000,000 in Canada and 1.7 billion worldwide.

 

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