PQ candidate steps down after posting anti-Islamic photos

Parti Quebecois candidate Jean Carriere has withdrawn from the 2014 election campaign.

A Parti Quebecois candidate who posted anti-Islamic material on social media has withdrawn from the campaign.

Jean Carriere, who was the PQ candidate for the Montreal riding of Lafontaine, created a social media storm on Wednesday when a Liberal party supporter digging through his Facebook page found a picture of a half-naked woman saying "Fuck Islam."

Earlier this year Carriere also praised Marine Le Pen and the far-right Front National party of France.

Reporters had difficulty contacting Carriere Wednesday evening and his Facebook page was soon taken offline, but he later told one that he shared the image because he thought it was pro-feminist.

Thursday morning Premier Pauline Marois announced that Carriere had withdrawn his candidacy.

Around noon Carriere posted an apologetic message on his Facebook page.

One of the first replies came from Roland Richer, the PQ candidate for Argenteuil, who said he still admired Carriere and said he should not have been forced to step down.

Around 2 p.m. Richer's comment was removed.