News Desk |
Canadian Education Minister, Jean-Francois Roberge, was slammed on social media for posting a photo with the world’s youngest Nobel Prize laureate, Malala Yousafzai.
On 5th July, Quebec’s education minister Jean-François Roberge posted a photo with Malala Yousafzai on his Twitter account. He captioned the picture, “Nice meeting with Malala Yousafzai, Nobel peace prize laureate, to discuss access to education and international development.”
Belle rencontre avec @Malala Yousafzai, récipiendaire du prix Nobel de la Paix, pour discuter d’accès à l’éducation et de développement international. @UNESCO pic.twitter.com/nuRe36039O
— Jean-F. Roberge (@jfrobergeQc) July 5, 2019
The picture sparked outrage and debate on social media since the authorities of Quebec has recently passed a controversial law restricting the civil servants in authority donning religious symbols or ostentatious markers of faith. This also includes teachers who cannot wear rosaries and, headscarves in case of Malala, when performing their duties.
The Coalition Avenir Quebec’s (CAQ) bill covers judges, police officers, teachers, and some other public figures.
These laws are formulated to strengthen secularization, separating religion from affairs of state. The same law will also prohibit Malala Yousafzai from teaching in any of the school in the province.
The Pakistani activist won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2014 for her work in supporting the right of young girls towards education. She survived a shot in the head by a member of the Taliban in 2012.
The critics argued that the law has hit Muslim women, with netizens pointing out the hypocrisy on part of the education minister for posting a photo with hijab-clad Malala Yousafzai.
Journalist Salim Nadim Valji, slamming Jean, queried how he would have replied if Malala had asked to teach in a school in Quebec.
Mr. Roberge, how would you respond if Mme Yousafzai wanted to become a teacher in Quebec?
— Salim Nadim Valji (@salimvalji) July 5, 2019
“I would certainly tell her that it would be an immense honour and that in Quebec, as is the case in France (where we are now) and in other open and tolerant countries, teachers cannot wear religious symbols in performing their duties,” Jean replied while defending the law.
The bill has sparked a debate in the province; the critics say the bill unfairly targets Muslim women while the supporters say it is a positive step towards secularization.
Read more: School in Texas to be named after Malala Yousafzai
The Pakistani activist won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2014 for her work in supporting the right of young girls towards education. She survived a shot in the head by a member of the Taliban in 2012.
https://twitter.com/GeorgiaVrakas/status/1147166909294632961
Belle rencontre avec @Malala Yousafzai, récipiendaire du prix Nobel de la Paix, pour discuter d’accès à l’éducation et de développement international. @UNESCO pic.twitter.com/nuRe36039O
— Jean-F. Roberge (@jfrobergeQc) July 5, 2019
Sure, let’s replace all these veiled women (and others)who educate and inspire students with those who don’t where visible religious symbols but may do exactly what the CAQ is afraid of…influence and brainwash. Words shape young minds not a scarf! Malala the teacher. Anytime!
— Caterina (@bonj1971) July 5, 2019
— Léa Stréliski (@LeaStreliski) July 5, 2019
I’m sure that you didn’t mention how your government has banned her from teaching in Quebec right? You go against everything she stands for, you hypocrite.
— Paolo (@Captain_Crash83) July 5, 2019