Quebec: Jean-Francois Roberge, the Education Minister of Canada’s Quebec province, has received backlash on social media for tweeting a picture with Malala Yousafzai, a Nobel Prize-winning human rights activist.
He tweeted saying, “Nice meeting with Malala Yousafzai, nobel peace prize laureate, to discuss access to education and international development.”
Jean-F. Roberge✔@jfrobergeQc
The minister met Malala in France, where the picture was taken. It created an outrage on social media against the minister due to the recently passed controversial “secular” law that bans certain civil servants in “authority” from wearing religious symbols or ostentatious markers of faith, including teachers. People on social media called him a hypocrite for posing with Yousafzai.
Salim Nadim Valji✔@salimvalji
Mr. Roberge, how would you respond if Mme Yousafzai wanted to become a teacher in Quebec?
Roberge responded to the journalist Salim Nadim Valji’s question saying, “I would certainly tell her it would be an immense honour and that in Quebec, as in France … as well as in other open and tolerant countries, teachers can’t wear religious signs while performing their duties.”
People supporting the bill say it is a progressive step towards the separation of Church and state in Quebec.
Critics oppose the bill saying it is biased against Muslim women in the province who wear head-coverings.
The secularism bill has sparked protests and debates in Quebec.
