Quebec premier proposes public prayer ban, citing secularism concerns in Canada

By Merve Aydogan

HAMILTON, Canada (AA) - Quebec Premier Francois Legault announced Friday his intention to ban public prayer in the province, citing concerns about religious activities conflicting with secular values in Canada.

"Today, I want to send a very clear message to the Islamists," Francois Legault said in a year-end news conference in Quebec City.

Saying that Quebec has fundamental values such as "secularism and equality between men and women," Legault said: "Seeing people praying in the streets, in public parks, is not something we want in Quebec."

Despite freedom of religion being a constitutionally cherished right in Canada, the Quebec premier said that "there is no place for religion in the public sector."

Quebec's Education Minister Bernard Drainville also echoed Legault comments earlier Friday and pledged to introduce legislation to bolster secularism in schools.

Drainville criticized incidents of students praying during lessons and using hallways as prayer spaces: "That's not our Quebec."

Quebec’s secularism law, known as Bill 21, bans employees such as teachers and police officers, from wearing religious symbols at work. Included are Muslim hijabs, Christian crosses, Sikh turbans and Jewish kippahs.