Name: Asma Ahmadi
Age: 26
City: London, ON

The niqab was commanded on the prophets’ wives, the most graceful and elevated women in Islam. I feel those who choose to wear niqab in North American are embarking on a noble and brave endeavor. Perhaps our society is not ready for such bold expression, given the historical, social and geographical context. Nevertheless, if some aspire to emulate the wives of the prophets in their ibadaat (worship) and muamaalat (non-worship actions) then hats off to our Muslim sisters!

The niqab ban in Quebec is a breach of our human rights and the charter of rights and freedom. By refusing women access to basic services such as education and health, the government of Quebec is discriminating based on religion and gender. The tenets of our pluralistic and multicultural societies are being put to the test. Instead of seeing this as an opportunity to have critical debates over values, identity and freedom of choice, our politicians, intellectuals and government officials opted out, choosing restriction instead.

Perhaps our sisters would like to re-appropriate the understanding of freedom of expression. Was the charter of rights and freedom created in the hopes of encouraging more scantily clad women?

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Name: Muhammed Zuhry Mousa
Age: 14
City: London, ON

I find it very odd because Canada is supposed to be a multicultural nation; a free reign among religions and toleration towards people's individual beliefs. So if the majority of Canadians are accepting this bill for the niqab to be banned, then I'm wondering how Canadians thought of this rule in the first place, because many rules obviously have been broken.

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Name: H. Elmi
Age:21
City: Windsor, ON

I don't support Bill 94 because I feel that if it is passed, Canada's social and political fabric will be forever torn. As Canadians, we pride ourselves on being a multi-culturally sound nation. We boast to neighboring nations that we accept, welcome and respect all people from all walks of life. Over the years we as Muslims, have made a name for ourselves as peaceful and culturally informed folk and Bill 94 and everything it stands for threatens to shatter all we have built. If this bill is passed it would only take us back in time and would most definitely change the way Canadians feel about their rights being protected. A woman wearing niqab being told to remove it is no different then that of a woman being told to wear one compulsively. Her freedom to express her religious devotions is no different than the wearing of a Christian cross or a Sikh turban. Ironically, Bill 94 is rooted in sexist ideals that harbors the same oppression of women's rights that our military is fighting for in other countries. What good does our established democracy do us when our voices are silenced, our beliefs threatened to be taken away and the very rights promised to us hang in the balance? If Bill 94 is passed by legislation, I will only be left in awe as to what the government will take away next.