Thirty Quebecers sign a letter of support for Amira Elghawaby

(Ottawa) The philosopher Charles Taylor, the lawyer Julius Gray and the co-founder of the mosque of Quebec, Boufeldja Benabdallah, believe that Amira Elghawaby must be given a chance to fulfill her mandate. The new federal representative for the fight against Islamophobia has been at the heart of a controversy since her appointment a week ago.

She previously wrote that the “majority of Quebecers” seemed “influenced by anti-Muslim sentiment” in a column published in the daily ottawa citizen where she opposed the State Secularism Act (Law 21). This law prohibits the wearing of religious symbols by state employees in positions of authority, including teachers. It is being challenged in court.

“We are sensitive to the concerns that have been raised since her appointment, but the challenge she faces is daunting and we believe that Ms.^me Elghawaby to exercise and fulfill the mandate for which she was appointed”, write the signatories.

They recall that she apologized and that she undertook to continue the dialogue to get to know Quebecers better. They also point out that meetings are planned with Quebec elected officials.

M^me Elghawaby has already met with Bloc Québécois leader Yves-François Blanchet on Wednesday before apologizing. She also spoke Thursday with the Minister of Canadian Heritage, Pablo Rodriguez, who said he was “deeply hurt by his remarks”. He now supports his nomination. She must also meet with Québec solidaire (QS) over the next few days.

“We are ready to contribute to a constructive dialogue surrounding these complex and sensitive issues and we are committed to combating all prejudices, whatever they may be,” they conclude. The letter is also signed by commentator Anne Lagacé Dowson, ex-candidate of the New Democratic Party (NDP) in 2015, philosopher Michel Seymour and Mohamed Labidi, who was president of the Quebec mosque during the attack in 2017 where six people were killed. Ève Torres, who made headlines in 2021 during the showdown between Québec solidaire and her decolonial anti-racist collective, is also a signatory.

The Bloc Québécois on Thursday demanded the abolition of Amira Elghawaby’s post, despite her apologies. Its leader Yves-François Blanchet believes that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has “contaminated” this post by doing “something that has drifted towards a denunciation of Quebec identity and values” and by creating an “amalgam between secularism and Islamophobia” .

New Democrat MP Alexandre Boulerice denounced this “senseless and disconnected from the reality of Muslim communities” position. The creation of the post of special representative to combat Islamophobia was one of the recommendations of the National Summit on Islamophobia in 2021 due to a rise in hate crimes against Muslims in recent years.

Apologies from M.^me Elghawaby did not convince the Quebec government, which is still calling for his resignation. In all, three of the four parties represented in the National Assembly believe that she cannot start her term. The Liberal Party of Quebec and the Parti Québécois supported a motion to this effect presented by the Coalition avenir Québec on Wednesday. Québec solidaire abstained from voting.

The Conservative Party of Canada is also calling for the resignation of Amira Elghawaby because of her “anti-Quebec, anti-Jewish and anti-police remarks”. In another of his columns, Mr.^me Elghawaby suggested disarming the police.

Amira Elghawaby is due to officially take office on February 20 for a four-year term. The executive order confirming her appointment says she will receive a salary of between $162,700 and $191,300.