Says Quebec's discriminatory law undermines constitutional rights, religious freedom
Punjab Newsline, Amritsar, September 28–
Strongly condemning the Quebec's controversial Bill 21, the Global Sikh Council (GSC), representing 32 national Sikh organizations, has urged the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) and Canadian federal government to repeal this legislation which bans public sector workers in "positions of authority" from wearing religious symbols while at work.
The GSC highlighted that this law directly violates the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights, a commitment upheld by the Canada, and called for immediate action from the Canadian federal government and international human rights bodies.
TThe GSC president Lady Singh Dr. Kanwaljit Kaur, OBE, emphasized that the Canadian constitution guarantees all citizens the freedom of religion, and Canada has ratified numerous treaties protecting ethnic and religious rights. She said "it sets a dangerous precedent by allowing the provincial dispensation to dictate what its people can or cannot wear and infringing on religious expression."
She also urged the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) to join the opposition against Bill 21 and challenge the same in international court of justice.