Franoise David appeals for calm in debate over niqab

A QubecSolidaire MNAis appealing for calm in the debate around whether Muslim women should be allowed to wear niqabs during citizenship ceremonies.

FranoiseDavid tableda motionagainstIslamophobiawhich passed today at Quebec'sNational Assembly.

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David told Radio-Canadashe has seen language that is "hateful, aggressive and intolerant" with regard to the Muslim community.

The motion denounces Islamophobia, hate speech and violence against all Quebecers.David tabled it one day after young people ripped a Montreal Muslim woman's head scarf off.

"Ican't justsit in my home and say, 'Oh, there's no problem here.' It's impossible for me, and I would say and act the same way if people from other communities...experience that kind of attack," she said.

In the motion,David called on her colleagues to voice their concern overthe increased Islamophobic and racist videos orstatements on social media.

Quebec Immigration Minister KathleenWeiljoined David in denouncingIslamophobia.

In a rarebipartisannews conference after the motion passed,Weilsaid the vote sends a strong message.

""I think this was a gesture of responsibility...and it's a gesture to reassure people, not onlyQuebecers, but reassure newcomers and people who perhaps came a few generations ago,"Weilsaid.

Niqab debate

David said Islamophobia has been inflamed by the federal election and the continued debate among leaders over the niqab.She said she hopes her motion brings some calm to a divided province.

The wearing of theniqabduring the citizenship oathhas become a hot topic in the federal campaign. NDP Leader TomMulcair, Liberal Leader JustinTrudeauand Green Party Leader Elizabeth May oppose the ban, while Conservative Leader Stephen Harper and BlocQubcoisLeader GillesDuceppesupport it.

While David said she's personally opposed to theniqab, she saidthe federal election should "not be a referendum on theniqab, but rather a referendum on nine years of Conservative rule" that she said have been detrimental to the environment, workers and women's rights.

"The issue of theniqabwill be resolved in the Supreme Court, but the question of relations between the majority in Quebec and its minorities, including the Muslim minority,must be settled in Quebec outside an election campaign," she said.

Since the Conservative government implemented a policy in 2011stating that candidates for citizenship must remove any kind of face covering when taking the publiccitizenship oath, only two womenhave decided to not go through with the ceremony.