Canada’s Liberal-appointed ‘anti-Islamophobia’ representative is getting criticized for urging universities to hire more Muslim, Palestinian and Arab professors.
Amira Elghawaby, Canada’s anti-Islamaphobia rep since January 2023, sent a letter on August 30 to Quebec’s colleges and universities, encouraging them to prioritize those with Muslim faith when hiring.
As first reported in by Le Journal de Québec, Elghawaby made a total of five demands in her letter.
The Government of Quebec has since demanded Elghawaby resign from her role, the second time they’ve done so. Days after the Trudeau Liberals appointed Elghawaby to the role last year, the Quebec government called for her to be fired for statements she made in 2019, when she said Quebecers are motivated by “anti-Muslim sentiment.”
On Friday, Quebec’s Minister of Higher Education, Pascale Déry, blasted Elghawaby in a social media post. Dery said that hiring on the basis of religion not only “goes against the principles of secularism, but also the criteria linked to excellence in our establishments.”
Asked his reaction to the development, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau defended Elghawaby’s letter, saying her role is to make recommendations and encourage dialogue. Trudeau also defended Elghawaby last year during the backlash to her criticism of Quebecers.
Conservative Party of Canada leader Pierre Poilievre, on the other hand, said Trudeau should reverse his appointment of Elghawaby.
