The leader of the Bloc Quebecois has called on anti-Islamophobia representative Amira Elgawhaby to resign from her post in the Liberal government. This comes despite the fact she met with the federal party the day before and apologized for her previous remarks deemed offensive.
Bloc leader Yves-François Blanchet said on Thursday that Quebecers could not forgive the initial decision to appoint Elghawaby, who previously said Quebecers are swayed by anti-Muslim sentiment rather than rule of law.
“[It] made the very function impossible to restore,” said Blanchet, acknowledging that Elghawaby attempted to repair the relationship.
Elghawaby met with Blanchet on Wednesday to apologize for her comments, one day after the Quebec legislature passed a motion calling for her dismissal.
“I am extremely sorry for the way that my words have carried, how they have hurt the people of Quebec,” she said at the time.
In a media scrum outside that meeting, Elghawaby said her past comments about Quebecers were not intended to hurt, but rather to shine light on discrimination.
“My intention has always been […] to bring people together,” she said.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau appointed Elghawaby last week as Canada’s first Special Representative on Combatting Islamophobia.
Apart from the outcry at the Quebec legislature, her appointment has also drawn significant attention from the media.
On Monday, the vice-president of the Canadian Council of Muslim Women said the controversy surrounding Elghawaby is undemocratic.
“There is no freedom of speech if these things can happen,” Shaheen Ashraf said in a CBC article. “[If] you’re asked to resign just because of some comments you made against the Quebec government many years ago.”
On Wednesday, The Globe and Mail columnist Konrad Yakabuski criticized Elghawaby’s job, saying her anti-Islamophobia role is nothing more than political theatre.
“Elghawaby’s appointment has little to do with any attempt by Mr. Trudeau to foster meaningful dialogue,” he said. “Her nomination is meant to delight outspoken interest groups whose support is critical to Liberal political fortunes.”
Elghawaby has not officially responded to Yves-Francois Blanchet’s request that she resign.
