October 24, 2024
A Montreal borough and Muslim community leaders are condemning comments made by Parti Québécois (PQ) leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon, who criticized a local library for using an image of a young girl in a hijab to promote a children’s story time event. The event, held at Mercier Library on October 13, aimed to foster a love for books among children aged three to six. The promotional poster featured a stock photo of three children, including one girl wearing a hijab.
Plamondon took to social media, describing the photo as evidence of a “religious invasion” of public spaces and questioning whether the child was making an informed choice to wear the hijab. He urged Quebecers not to “bury their heads in the sand” about what he sees as the growing presence of religious symbols in public life.
In response, Vincent Fortin, spokesperson for Montreal’s Mercier–Hochelaga-Maisonneuve borough, emphasized that the image was a generic stock photo, commonly used to represent diverse communities. Fortin clarified that the borough does not promote any particular religious practice.
Samer Majzoub, president of the Canadian Muslim Forum, denounced Plamondon’s comments as fear-mongering and a distraction from critical issues in Quebec, such as health and education. In a video published by CTV News, Majzoub said, “This kind of statement creates fear and tension,” adding that it alienates Muslims, particularly children. He further commented, “Just imagine how this child would feel, being singled out by a political leader” (CTV News, 2024).
The controversy arises as the Quebec government promises to tighten secularism laws in schools, further intensifying debate over religious symbols in the province. Critics, like former senator André Pratte, argue that Plamondon’s stance contradicts the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which protects the public expression of religion.
Despite some public support for the PQ leader, many are concerned that this rhetoric fuels division and Islamophobia in Quebec society.
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