Court Temporarily Bars Controversial Security Rule as Targeting Muslims

A Qu‚bec court has temporarily barred the government from enforcing the new law (erstwhile Bill 62) banning people from giving or receiving a public service with their face covered. Civil rights groups contend that the law targets Muslim women for whom wearing the traditional hiqab face covering is an important religious custom. The Superior Court ruling puts the legislation on ice unless and until the provincial government devises a fair method for affected individuals to apply for religious accommodations [National Council of Canadian Muslims c. Attorney General of Quebec, 2017 QCCS 5459 (CanLII), Dec. 1, 2017].