TORONTO: Canadian opposition leaders accused Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper of playing divisive politics in a recent French-language debate ahead of next month’s election.
Harper has been promoting a law to ban the practice of Muslim women wearing face veils while swearing the oath of citizenship. The anti-niqab law is popular in Quebec.
Polls say the Oct. 19 election is a three way toss-up. According to the CTV/Globe and Mail/Nanos Nightly Tracking Poll, the Liberals are at 31.5 percent while the leftist New Democrats are at 30.8 percent and the Conservatives at 30.5 percent. The margin of error for the survey of 1,200 respondents is 2.8 percent
Harper lost a court decision to ban the practice of wearing face veils while swearing the oath this month. He’s appealing to the Supreme Court.
Harper engaged in a heated exchange with New Democrat leader Tom Mulcair, who said Harper is playing a dangerous game of politics and trying to hide his record behind a niqab.
“Tackle the oppressor if you believe that there is oppression there,” Mulcair said, adding the prime minister was using the issue as a “weapon of mass distraction.”
Liberal leader Justin Trudeau said Harper is playing on fears and said men shouldn’t tell women how to dress, nor should government.
Canadian opposition rejects Harper’s bid to ban Muslim veils
Canadian opposition rejects Harper’s bid to ban Muslim veils
UK Police arrest 86 people at prison protest for Palestine Action hunger striker
- Demonstration outside Wormwood Scrubs held in support of Umer Khalid
- Khalid 1 of 5 people charged in connection with break-in at RAF base last year
LONDON: A protest outside a prison in the UK in support of a man detained for supporting the banned group Palestine Action has led to the arrest of 86 people.
London’s Metropolitan Police said a group of demonstrators breached the grounds of Wormwood Scrubs prison in the capital, refused to leave when ordered to do so, and threatened officers. They were arrested on suspicion of aggravated trespass.
The group, several of whom attempted to gain access to the prison itself, were protesting in support of Umer Khalid, who is currently on hunger strike at the facility.
Khalid is one of five people charged in relation to a break-in by Palestine Action members at an RAF base at Brize Norton last year, in which two military aircraft were damaged.
Khalid, who denies the charges, is one of several people who are on or who have taken part in hunger strikes in recent months, all of whom have been held on similar charges for over a year without their cases being brought to trial.
A spokesperson for the UK’s Ministry of Justice said: “The escalation of the protest at HMP Wormwood Scrubs is completely unacceptable. While we support the right to peacefully protest, reports of trespassing and threats being made to staff and police officers are deeply concerning.
“At no point was prison security compromised. However, where individuals’ actions cause risk or actual harm to hardworking staff, this will not be taken lightly and those responsible can expect to face consequences.
“Prisoners are being managed in line with longstanding policy. This includes regular checks by medical professionals, heart monitoring and blood tests, and support to help them eat and drink again. If deemed appropriate by healthcare teams, prisoners will be taken to hospital.”
