Fariha Naqvi-Mohamed: Amira Elghawaby has an important job to do

As a Muslim Quebecer witnessing Premier François Legault skip Sunday’s commemoration of the sixth anniversary of the Quebec City mosque shooting, I felt like I’d been slapped. As the premier of all Quebecers, Legault should have been there to show solidarity with a Quebec community still reeling. His absence contrasted sharply with the presence of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

As if that were not bad enough, the following day it felt like insult had been added to injury.

We all knew the Trudeau government’s recent appointment of a special representative on combating Islamophobia would be scrutinized. What surprised me was the speed with which the Coalition Avenir Quebec government demanded Amira Elghawaby’s resignation after past comments it found offensive came to light, and then how unforgiving it has remained despite her apology this week.

While I disagree with Elghawaby’s suggestion in a 2019 oped in the Ottawa Citizen that the majority of Quebecers appear to be swayed by anti-Muslim sentiment, I think that calling for her resignation based on her interpretation of the results of a poll is absurd.

It also looks like a double standard. I can’t help but remember when, mere days before the recent provincial elections, outgoing immigration minister Jean Boulet said that “80 per cent of immigrants go to Montreal, do not work, do not speak French or do not adhere to the values of Quebec society.” Boulet was re-elected with no issue. And while that outrageous and counter-factual comment demonstrated that he had no business being anywhere near the portfolio responsible for immigration, he was maintained in cabinet as minister of labour.

In my view, what Boulet said was a lot worse than what Elghawaby wrote.

As a Quebecer, I am disappointed, too, that the CAQ government has paid so much attention to this issue. Now that the National Assembly is back in session, one would think that our health-care crisis, education system or a slew of other issues would take higher priority, but it’s acting in keeping with what looks to me like a preoccupation with managing Muslim women: what they wear and what they say. After all, this is the same government that announced its intentions for Bill 21 — whose practical impact falls mostly on hijab-wearing women — soon after it won its first mandate.

Despite Elghawaby’s apology Wednesday, Quebec Laïcité Minister Jean-François Roberge still called for her resignation.

At least Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet was open enough to speak with her first, before making the same demand.

Although I am disappointed by Blanchet’s call Thursday for Elghawaby’s resignation, I respect that he had not just jumped on the bandwagon, but had requested a sit down with her. He said Wednesday morning, “I believe she does not know Quebec. She does not know our history, and I will be pleased as a citizen, as a party leader and as an anthropologist to discuss Quebec history with her.” How much better might our political system function if others opted to take a similar approach?

The job Elghawaby has ahead of her as the special representative on combatting Islamophobia is not a small one. It is unprecedented, but profoundly needed, across the country. Between 2016 and 2021, Canada had the highest number of Muslims killed in targeted, hate-motivated attacks of all the G7 countries, according to the National Council of Canadian Muslims.

I am confident Elghawaby is the best person for this role. She has an impressive background, is level-headed and is known to be an excellent team player. Once the dust settles on this issue, I look forward to her being able to do the job she was tasked with.

Fariha Naqvi-Mohamed is the founder and editor in chief of CanadianMomEh.com, a lifestyle blog.

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