Two women who helped operate an exhibition on Islam in the Olds Municipal Library last month say they're confident a new law in Quebec restricting face coverings won't be replicated in this province.
Nabila Malik, 32, and Shaistah Ahmad, 19, are members of the Ahmadiyya Muslim community of Calgary. They, along with a few other members of the faith maintained an exhibition explaining Islam in the Olds library Oct. 14-28.
The controversial Quebec law was passed in the Quebec National Assembly last month.
Bill 62 prohibits anyone from receiving or giving public services with their face covered. It means Muslim women must uncover their faces in order to obtain public services such as health care, ride a bus or the subway or attend school.
Already, the law has been criticized as an infringement on citizens' rights and deemed to likely be unconstitutional.
In Alberta, Premier Rachel Notley condemned it as a piece of legislation that "smacks of Islamophobia." She described the date of its passage as a sad day for Canada.
Malik was happy with that response.
"It felt good to know, that, you know, at least Alberta-wise, that it's something that she is condemning so I was happy with that ñ that Alberta at least isn't going in that direction," she said.
The two women were asked if they thought the Alberta government's position on the law might change if the United Conservative Party takes power after the 2019 election.
"Honestly no. Personally I'm not," Malik said.
Ahmad said she's not concerned about that either.
"I think it goes against the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, so it's not Canadian. That's what I feel. Because Canada offers you the right of religion," Malik said.
"That's what I think as well," Ahmad added.
"It felt good to know, that, you know, at least Alberta-wise, that it's something that she is condemning, so I was happy with that ñ that Alberta at least, isn't going in that direction."NABILA MALIK
