The spectacle of most Quebec politicians lining up to condemn Amira Elghawaby, Canada’s first special representative on combating Islamophobia, because of an op-ed she wrote in July 2019 with Bernie Farber makes these politicians look like bullies. If she showed “contempt towards Quebec” as Quebec Premier François Legault contends, then so did Farber, chair of the Canadian Anti-Hate Network and life-long advocate against hatred in all forms, and I do not believe that.
Elghawaby and Farber made points that should have left readers uncomfortable about Quebec’s Bill 21, so they seem to have achieved that objective. Elghawaby’s new job isn’t about making people comfortable but about making people question their own biases. It sounds like she’s the right person for the job. By; Fred Maroun, Ottawa
Let’s really try to understand each other
Whether Amira Elghawaby stays or goes as Canada’s special representative on combating Islamophobia, we would all be well advised to better distinguish between the effects of a law and the intentions of its supporters. For those of us who feel targeted by Bill 21, it can be hard not to assume that its millions of proponents wish us harm or wish us gone. Some of them certainly do. But it’s more constructive to engage seriously with their ideas about secularism, gender and cultural vulnerability, all of which can be espoused by good people, even if we strongly disagree. At the same time, it’s not good enough for those who like Bill 21 — or those who enacted it — to simply say they aren’t driven by ill will. You’re supporting something that makes many of your fellow Quebecers feel hurt and unwelcome. If you really believe that religious minorities can flourish in a society with this law on the books, prove it. Don’t attack us when we express how we feel; support and defend our communities, and make genuine efforts to understand and address our concerns. Source: ottawacitizen.com
Friday, May 1, 2026
