NCCM and CCLA Continue to Challenge Quebec’s School Prayer Ban

MONTREAL — The National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM) and the Canadian Civil Liberties Association (CCLA) are continuing the fight to challenge Quebec’s school prayer ban.

The NCCM & CCLA are asking the Quebec Court of Appeal to review the decision that denied a request to suspend operation of the Decree, arguing that this decision is based on several errors of law and fact.

In June, shortly after the Decree came into effect, the NCCM and CCLA  filed a legal challenge of the Decree, which is effectively a ban on prayers in school that violates the religious freedom of Quebec students.

“We cannot stand for a situation where Quebec students are being bullied and subjected to a regime at school where kids will be watched and surveilled to see if they are trying to pray,” says Stephen Brown, Chief Executive Officer of NCCM. “The denial of Charter rights to any child is appalling. No student should have to hide to pray.”

“Every day that the school prayer ban is in effect, Quebec students continue to be harmed.” says Harini Sivalingam, Equality Program Director at the CCLA. “The government cannot continue to suppress the rights of religious minorities and we will stand up for the rights and freedoms of Quebec students impacted by this decision.”

The appellants are represented by Olga Redko and Johanna Mortreux from IMK LLP of Montreal.

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The NCCM is an independent, non-partisan and non-profit organization that is a leading voice for civic engagement and the promotion of human rights. 

The CCLA is an independent, non-profit organization with supporters from across the country. Founded in 1964, the CCLA is a national human rights organization committed to defending the rights, dignity, safety, and freedoms of all people in Canada.

BILINGUAL MEDIA CONTACTS: 
Alexandre Nanoff, CCLA Media Relations
media@ccla.org
613.709.6318

Aasiyah Khan
media@nccm.ca