Ban on public prayer: Muslim group says Quebec’s move targets community

Quebec plans to introduce legislation to ban prayers in public spaces in the fall, but one Muslim group says they feel targeted.

The head of the National Council of Canadian Muslims says the ban is concerning.

“The idea that somehow prayer in the street is a new thing or a dangerous thing is absurd,” said CEO Stephen Brown.

He adds, “The exact same thing is happening with other communities, but they don’t talk about it.”

The move comes amid simmering tension in Quebec over Muslim prayers taking place as part of pro-Palestinian demonstrations, including in front of the Notre-Dame Basilica of Montreal.

In December, the CAQ expressed unease with people praying in public.

Brown says when it comes to pro-Palestinian demonstrators, organizers have permits to allow them to use the space.

“What are we going to start doing in Quebec? Mandating that you get your messaging approved by the government before you’re given a permit to go protest?”

This comes in the wake of an independent committee that provided 50 recommendations to the Quebec government on how to strengthen secularism.

While the report stopped short of recommending a provincial ban on public prayers, it said it should be up to the municipalities to decide.

Côte-Saint-Luc Mayor Mitchell Brownstein applauds the move from the province.

“Municipalities know their communities best, and we certainly would not allow it to happen blocking the street or in other situations. It has to be reasonable,” said Brownstein.

That said, Brown believes the ban is merely a political move.

“This is a government that is looking for a win a year out from an election in order to boost its poll numbers,” he said.

Political analyst and former NDP leader Tom Mulcair agrees. He says the move shows that the CAQ government is in trouble.

“They know that this is something that they can ride with a good part of their base and their hope to try to get their voters back,” said Mulcair.

He adds, “Mr. [Francois] Legault understands that a good part of his base is uneasy for all sorts of reasons with the Muslim community.”

A statement from Secularism Minister Jean-Francois Roberge reads, “The Premier of Quebec has given me the mandate to strengthen secularism, and I am determined to fulfill that mandate diligently.”

With files from The Canadian Press