Canada's Supreme Court to Review Controversial Quebec Secularism Law

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Canada’s Supreme Court has announced it will hear a challenge to Quebec's 2019 secularism law, which restricts certain public workers from wearing religious symbols while on duty. The law, criticized for disproportionately affecting hijab-wearing Muslim women, prohibits judges, police officers, prison guards, and teachers from representing their faith through visible symbols. Other public employees, including bus drivers and social workers, are required only to keep their faces uncovered.

Quebec's government has staunchly defended the legislation, asserting its importance to the province's history and values, while previously invoking the "notwithstanding clause" to bypass the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Critics argue that the law infringes upon fundamental rights and have raised concerns about its implications for religious minorities.

Federal Justice Minister Arif Virani expressed significant concerns regarding the law’s implementation and emphasized the government’s commitment to defending the principles of the charter. Advocacy groups welcomed the Supreme Court's decision to hear the case, viewing it as a hopeful step towards addressing the impacts of the law on affected individuals.

A hearing date has yet to be scheduled, but it is anticipated to occur in the fall.

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