Niqab Emerges as Polarizing Issue in Canadian Election
With an election looming Oct 19, Canadian
Prime Minister Stephen Harper has deliberately alienated
a million Muslim Canadians, a constituency
his party has assiduously courted in the past. Why?
by Henry Makow Ph.D.
A trivial but symbolic issue has emerged as potentially decisive in the Canadian election campaign: whether Muslim women should be able to wear a face cover at Canadian citizenship ceremonies.
Last March, Prime Minister Stephen Harper cast this as a women’s issue and went out of his way to insult all Muslims:
“Why would Canadians, contrary to our own values, embrace a practice at that time that is not transparent,” he said,[one] “that is not open and, frankly, is rooted in a culture that is anti-women?”
Muslims reacted with outrage. Harper’s statement implied they weren’t welcome as citizens, and Muslim women were too stupid to know their culture was “anti-woman.” Harper contradicted Canada’s oft-stated protestations of “diversity” and multiculturalism.
Even though Harper pretends to be a Christian and social conservative, he seems ignorant of the religious purpose of the niqab. It’s a sign of the woman’s modesty and consecration to her family and religion.
In the current campaign, NDP leader Thomas Mulcair was the only leader capable of recognizing the symbolism of this ban. Despite its popularity in the NDP power base of Quebec, he opposed it. It is saying in effect, you cannot become a Canadian if you wish to observe your religion. Mulcair accused Harper of “playing a very divisive game with the Niqab.”
For example, in Aug. 2013, in response to Quebec’s proposed “values charter,” Harper said, “And our job is social inclusion. Our job is making all groups who come to this country, whatever their background, whatever their race, whatever their ethnicity, whatever their religion, feel at home in this country and be Canadians,” he said. “That’s our job.”
(left, Stephen Harper)
What changed? Opportunism and another factor. Divide and conquer is the time-tested tactic of the Illuminati. Clearly Harper’s central banker masters have demanded he demonize Muslims in the eyes of gullible Christians. Harper staged a false flag terror event last October and is trying to shepherd an unpopular repressive new anti-terror bill through Parliament.
Harper said, “almost all Canadians oppose the wearing of face coverings during citizenship ceremonies.” He has calculated that his stand will win him more votes than not. I hope his ignorance and opportunism backfires.
By calling Muslim culture “anti woman,” he is guilty of hate speech. He has displayed his ignorance and damaged his dubious cause.
Related - Makow- The Truth About Diversity
Canadian defense minister tweets hoax photos from anti-Muslim hate sites:
Source: http://henrymakow.com/2015/10/whats-behind-harper-hate-speech.html
