The decision of the Minister of Education, Bernard Drainville, to ban prayer rooms in public schools in Quebec is not well received by the National Council of Canadian Muslims (CNMC), which, at this stage, does not rule out no possibility of a prosecution.
“School is not a place of prayer. It’s not complicated, ”said Minister Drainville, Wednesday, in reaction to the two Laval secondary schools which have set up premises so that their students can pray there. “I cannot forbid prayer. I ban prayer rooms in classrooms. Now, if someone wants to pray silently, that’s their basic right. Mr. Drainville’s office clarified that the directive would apply to all rooms and premises in a school.
The Minister’s decision is to the consternation of CNMC President and CEO Stephen Brown. “I totally agree that school is a secular place,” he said in an interview. But it is the institution that is secular. Individuals are not. If someone wants to pray instead of listening to music or playing basketball, that’s up to them. »
Mr Brown says his organization is “assessing the situation” and is not ruling out the prospect of a lawsuit against the government. “If it turns out that it is a discriminatory situation for the community [musulmane]we will take the necessary measures to defend the rights of people, ”he proclaims.
Mr Brown is concerned that the ministry may issue directives to schools asking them to “monitor the religious or spiritual practice” of students, a method he says would be “highly problematic”.
Stephen Brown also points out that this event occurs in the middle of Ramadan, which is no coincidence, according to him. “Often during this month, Muslims will have a more spiritual approach to life, they will pray more often, they will fast,” he explains.
“Personal expression of spirituality shouldn’t be a problem for anyone,” he adds. The government has a responsibility to promote living together and not to exacerbate division. Not just the government, for that matter, but all politicians. »
However, Minister Drainville’s directive pleased many, including Nadia El-Mabrouk, president of the Rassemblement pour la laïcité. “We can call it a healing center, but we divert the words, she says. It’s fooling the world, we know it’s just for Muslims. »
Such premises contravene the religious neutrality of the state, she points out, and can accentuate “exclusive community pressure” while “fueling religious radicalization”.
Local “non-denominational”
The Laval school service center, where the prayer rooms were set up, maintains that young people were praying in common areas, such as parking lots or spaces reserved for emergency exits, “which constituted a security issue. “.
“The contemplation had to be done individually and no spiritual or religious animation of the local was allowed. This room was non-denominational, ”says Annie Goyette, assistant director of the general secretariat and communications department of the Laval school service center, by email, speaking of Mont-de-La Salle secondary school. It was set up last Friday noon and was open to boys and girls alike.
“The room was supervised at all times by an adult. Since Monday, a member of the management was also present to monitor the premises, ”continues Mme Goyette.
The other school involved was the Laval School of International Education, but Ms.me Goyette indicates that “no place of meditation is currently accessible” in this school.
The Laval school service center indicated that it would comply with the minister’s directives. Mr. Drainville’s office was unable to provide the directive on Wednesday because it had not yet been sent.
The opposition react
On Wednesday, the National Assembly unanimously adopted the motion by PQ MP Pascal Bérubé — tabled jointly with the Minister of Education — according to which “the establishment of places of prayer, regardless of denomination, in the premises of a public school, goes against the principle of secularism”.
“It is up to Minister Drainville to establish a directive with clear guidelines that will ensure that the principles of state secularism, equality between men and women and freedom of religion are respected,” said the Liberal MP. Marwah Rizqy.
“But places for healing, meditation, multi-confessional, open to people who are also of no faith, open to men, women and who do not take up premises provided for the school’s educational mission, we have no problem with that, ”said supportive MP Alexandre Leduc.