Quebec Muslim groups sue government over prayer room ban in schools

Drainville has said the concept of prayer rooms runs counter to Quebec’s policy of official secularism. His directive states that school space cannot be used “in fact and in appearance, for the purposes of religious practices such as open prayers or other similar practices.”

The rule applies to elementary and high schools as well as vocational schools and adult education centres that fall under the public system. It does not extend to private schools or Indigenous school boards.

Drainville has said that he can’t ban prayer altogether and that students who want to pray should do so discreetly and silently.

The Muslim groups noted that their faith requires members to pray five times a day, including during school hours.

“Since it is a complete ban on all forms of prayer and since prayer is an essential component of Muslim religious practice, this ban discriminates against one group of individuals to the detriment of other groups,” the filing reads.

The lawsuit argues that Quebec’s official secularism law — Bill 21 — applies to the state, not to the citizens it serves. Other than affirming the “laicity of the state,” the law prohibits many public servants, including teachers, from wearing religious symbols on the job.

“State secularism aims to ensure that the state is not religious,” the Muslim groups say in their court filing. “The resulting obligation of state religious neutrality should not be interpreted in such a way as to favour one religion rather than another or to target, directly or indirectly, one religion rather than another.”

The plaintiffs say the decision to go before the courts was a last resort and came after extensive consultation, adding that the Education Department was warned about their lawsuit on Monday.

One of the organizations, The Canadian Muslim Forum, said in a statement earlier this week that the Muslim community isn’t seeking preferential treatment but opposes being “continuously targeted under different pretext and excuses.”

The Education Department declined to comment on the lawsuit.

When asked about the lawsuit, Premier François Legault told reporters Thursday in Quebec’s Beauce region, “We clearly think that schools are not the right place for prayer.”

Barring a settlement, the case is expected to be presented before a judge on June 2.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 18, 2023.

Sidhartha Banerjee, The Canadian Press

by The Canadian Press

Quebec Muslim groups sue government over prayer room ban in schools

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