Twitter responds following PM’s “anti-niqab” statements

Harper faces backlash for comments on “hostile” clothing culture

Prime Minister Stephen Harper shocked many in attendance at the House of Commons on Tuesday, March 10 when he stated that the religious practice of covering one’s face with a niqab is “rooted in a culture that is anti-women.”

A response to a question from Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau, these comments mark the strongest position so far that Harper has taken to explain the Conservative government’s fight against the wearing of veils – like the niqab – in Canadian citizenship ceremonies.

Harper was responding to Trudeau’s criticism of the Conservative government for seeking to ban the covering of one’s face during the citizenship oath. Harper also criticized critics of the decision, asserting that those in opposition of the Conservative move are embracing an anti-woman cultural marker.

The Liberal and NDP parties continue to criticize and accuse Harper and the Tories for his Islamophobia, vocalizing accusations of the current government heading down a path wrought with racial prejudice and bias.

Trudeau spoke to press outside the House of Commons, saying that Harper and the Tories are “doubling down on the politics of fear.”

The Liberal leader supports the wearing of the niqab, advocating the status quo under which one’s religious practices are defended in the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, under the freedom of religion section.

Across the country, Canadians of all walks spoke out in the days following, directly opposing Harper’s assertions that “most Canadians” would oppose the wearing of niqab “at the very moment where they are committing to join the Canadian family.”

In a post on her blog, Tales From A Hijabi Footballer, Shireen Ahmed called Canadian women to arms, urging them get involved in the conversation.

“All women are part of, and will always be welcome, in the ‘Canadian family,’” Ahmed wrote to readers, “in any outfit she chooses.”

Twitter also backlashed, rebuking the Prime Minister for his comments. The hashtag #DressCodePM quickly began to trend on the social media site.

Some took a serious tone in their oppositions, highlighting the problematic realities of Harper’s assertions and a potential misunderstanding of the role of the niqab in contemporary Canadian culture.

“Liberating to be a Canadian male,” wrote twitter user @KenCox. “No need to get permission from @PMHarper as to what I can wear as a citizen.”

Others, however, took a more sarcastic approach when adding to the conversation.

“Just about to get dressed; was thinking white blouse, green Celine skirt, white tights,” wrote twitter user @TabithaSouthey.” “Is that ok, @pmharper?”

“Need clarification,” wrote twitter user @TheRobNickerson, following suit. “Does PM Harper need to approve my wife’s clothing, or can any man do it?”

Critics of Harper, both on the Internet and in the political sphere, aim to expose the irony of his comments by showing that his words are perhaps themselves expressing an anti-woman rhetoric.

“What I actually think is anti-women is for the state or anyone at all to be telling women what they can or cannot wear,” said Amira Elghawaby, of the National Council of Canadian Muslims, to CTV News.

“When [Harper] talks about a culture of 1.8 billion human beings as being anti-women,” concluded NDP leader Thomas Mulcair to CBC News, “that’s very divisive […] and it’s undignified from a Canadian prime minister.”