As reported in the Journal de Québec (https://tinyurl.com/rtwb26bj), Québec seems to be getting ready to table a bill banning public prayers. Indeed, in a recent statement, Mr. Legault expressed the following thoughts: “The increase in street prayers is a serious and sensitive issue in Québec. Last December, our government expressed its unease with this increasingly prevalent phenomenon, especially in Montreal… This fall, we will therefore introduce a bill to strengthen secularism in Québec, notably by banning street prayers” (https://tinyurl.com/rtwb26bj). Will this forthcoming bill resemble what France resorted to in 2011, Bambi wonders (https://shorturl.at/Mg7G8)?
Instead of a potentially controversial new bill, why doesn’t the Government of Québec ban blocking streets, or public intimidation, whether done while praying, dancing/singing, or even silently? Without being a legal expert of Québec civil code, municipal by-laws, and/or federal criminal law, regardless of the protection of freedom of assembly or right to pray, there must be an existing legal framework to work with. Why isn’t being used now in Montreal to prevent some citizens from physically blocking streets, sidewalks, or disrupting traffic. Why isn’t this legal framework enough?
This being said, of course observant people, including Islamists—yes the latter as well, not just Muslims, or other types of believers—are theoretically free to pray anytime or anywhere they wish to. However, why don’t they choose to pray in places of worship, in private homes, or in their hearts?
In other terms, why should a deeply private act of connection with one’s God be exposed to, and even imposed on, the entire world? Despite any passionate drive to pray, whether truly spontaneous or pre-planned, like in a political demonstration, one must not be too self-centred to the extent of disturbing other fellow citizens with one’s own religious behaviour.
