On the Court of Public Opinion

Have you heard of the Quebec teacher who was fired for wearing a niqab in class?

Fatemeh Anvari, an elementary school teacher, was terminated because her harmless head covering ran afoul of Bill 21, which prohibits religious symbols in public servants. The law has widely been criticised as oppressing visible minorities, especially since it looks openly xenophobic and gratuitous. Not only that, government officials seem hell bent on adding insult to injury by standing by their decision. The law is the law, after all, and must be followed down the cliff.

What do you think resulted? Widespread outrage and protests covered by media worldwide. Not so much because it’s horrifying, but because one would expect better from Canada of all places, particularly since the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms is pretty solid; but Quebec’s so-called “notwithstanding clause” basically allows the provincial legislature to treat it like toilet paper.

This is basically why civil rights cases aren’t decided before courts of law, but before the court of public opinion. If this decision is ever reversed, it shall be because the mob overturned the law, not because any court did.

Once again this is a shameful attempt by a government to either assimilate or ostracise visible minorities, either for their self-satisfaction or political gain, with potentially chilling derives as xenophobia metastasises, and this is why such laws must be resisted at any cost, with massive civil disobedience if need be. “The law applies to everyone” doesn’t cut it when the law oppresses people. The law abducted aboriginal children, forcefully assimilated them, and even mass murdered them, and it started by taking the children’s names and cultural symbols away. When are Muslims to be next? If Quebec’s politicians have it their way, it could be very soon. If protesters have it their way, never. The courts? Don’t make me laugh.

So let’s push back with all our might at the slightest offence, lest we regret not doing it while we still could. If we must bleed for this, so be it.