On this International Day to Combat Islamophobia, the Federation of Quebec Women (FFQ) returns to the judgment rendered on February 29 by the Quebec Court of Appeal which confirms the validity of Law 21 on the secularism of the State and would like to reiterate its solidarity with the targeted women. A feminist society can never tolerate laws that limit women’s rights to make decisions about their bodies and beliefs, their ability to participate in society, obtain services or find employment.
A law that fuels hatred
It is no longer necessary to prove that when public debate targets a particular community, this systematically results in an increase in hateful acts against that community. In 2013, women’s groups noted an increase in hate incidents against Muslim women after the introduction of the debate on the Charter of Values by the Parti Québécois.
By particularly targeting women wearing the hijab and niqab, Law 21 has in turn fueled Islamophobia and increased violence against Muslim women. A study published by the Association for Canadian Studies in collaboration with the Léger firm shows that 73% of Muslim women feel less safe in public spaces since the promulgation of Bill 21. More than 66% of them have experienced hate incidents or crimes. Thus, the effects of this law are far from being restricted to state workers and job seekers. Whether at work, in the street, in leisure time, in their studies or even in their sport, Muslim women face racism, Islamophobia and violence on a daily basis.
During our intervention in the debate, we too saw our social media, our email addresses and even our mailbox being taken over by people criticizing our intervention using racist and misogynistic remarks. Of course, no democratic organization can boast of achieving unanimity at all times and on all subjects, but none of the subjects we address stir up hatred like when we demand the rights of Muslim women.
Feminism and secularism: equality above all
The FFQ is and has always been for secularism, but not just any secularism: for a secularism that truly respects the rights of women, and not for a secularism that claims to emancipate women from religion.
It is wrong to automatically associate religion and the oppression of women, just as it is wrong to automatically associate secularism and gender equality. In this sense, we reject the fact that the Law on State Secularism relies on the principle of equality to put in place measures having disproportionate and discriminatory repercussions on Muslim women.
In 2024, there should be no laws dictating what a woman can or cannot do with her body. For the FFQ, forcing a woman to undress to practice her profession is coercion and violent control of women’s bodies. Far from promoting equality, by seeking to control women’s bodies and by not respecting their decisions and beliefs, we infantilize them.
Commitment to solidarity
The FFQ is committed to continuing to denounce all forms of misogyny and Islamophobia, whether state or individual, blatant or insidious. We will continue to support the actions that challenge Bill 21 in court, but, above all, we will continue to provide our support to women who are victims of discrimination and racism.
We also invite the population to refuse division and to show solidarity with Muslim women. We all have our role to play in the fight against Islamophobia, and it is our duty to denounce the violence we witness, whether online or in real life. The fight so that women can make choices without constraint, for justice and equality, against racism and Islamophobia must be a collective fight.