During Canada’s 2015 federal election campaign, Stephen Harper and Zunera Ishaq, a female Muslim immigrant from Pakistan unleashed a fierce and ill-timed mini-tempest over Zunera’s wish to wear the niqab during the ceremony granting her Canadian citizenship.
What became known as “the niqab debate” soon morphed into a mostly unwanted election wedge issue. The government issued a policy that denied Zunera the right to wear the niqab during the ceremony.
This policy was examined and officially struck down by Canada’s federal court as a violation of the charter of rights and freedoms.
In this video, presenter Frederick Tamagi explores the niqab debate and its consequences.
