Two Muslim moms in Quebec say they’ve been instructed they’ll not volunteer at their youngsters’s elementary faculties as a result of they put on hijabs.
Sabaah Khan, a resident of Brossard, says she has spent greater than a decade volunteering at her youngsters’s faculties, serving to with actions starting from library duties to vaccination days.
“Volunteers are wanted as a result of the lecturers and the workers are very overworked, they usually want a number of assist,” Khan instructed International Information.
Sabaah Khan (left) and Asma Qureshi (proper) are pictured on March 3, 2026.
International Information
Khan says workers on the Riverside College Board not too long ago instructed her she may not volunteer due to her hijab.
“I’m from right here and my children are from right here,” she mentioned. “And I’m being instructed that my free time shouldn’t be adequate.”
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The province banned lecturers from carrying non secular symbols on the job in 2019. Final 12 months, the federal government barred all college personnel from carrying non secular garb.
Khan says there was confusion about how the foundations are being utilized. She says somebody questioned whether or not she was allowed to enter a college gymnasium to look at her son play basketball.
“They’re consistently trying whereas enjoying a recreation to verify mother’s nonetheless sitting there,” she mentioned. “It’s simply not truthful and the harm it’s doing to the youngsters could be very tough.”
One other mom, Asma Qureshi, says she and her husband will probably be offering meals for his or her baby’s commencement however she has been instructed she can not serve it on the occasion.
“We pay our taxes, we’re law-abiding residents, however we’re nonetheless made to really feel like second-class residents simply due to the best way we glance,” she mentioned.
Each ladies say they don’t blame the colleges or college boards, saying workers who delivered the information appeared to have little alternative.
In an announcement, the Riverside College Board mentioned it is going to strategy the implementation of Invoice 94 with professionalism and care and guarantee workers are knowledgeable and supported.
The workplace of Quebec’s training minister mentioned all dad and mom who want to get entangled of their youngsters’s college are welcome, supplied they don’t put on non secular symbols.
“College students should have the ability to be taught in a impartial setting, free of non secular strain, and in line with Quebec’s values of gender equality,” the assertion mentioned.
Khan says carrying a hijab her alternative.
“This is part of my alternative to decorate modestly and you’ll’t take away my proper to my freedom of alternative,” she mentioned.
Khan and Qureshi say they plan to maintain talking out towards Invoice 94 in hopes issues will change.