Que. Liberals call for "open secularism"

The Quebec Liberals said theParti Qubcois government's expectedproposal to ban civil servants from wearing religious symbolsis "anattack onindividual freedoms."

Liberal leader Philippe Couillard outlinedhis party'sresponse to the planned secular charter today,advocating an"open secularism"and callingtheban onreligious garb"unrealistic, difficult to enforce and probably illegal."

"Instead of getting active in how people dress, cant you take care of the real issues?" said Couillard. "[The PQs plan] is an unacceptable attack on our individual freedoms and we will never tolerate it."

Couillard said thathis party'splan would prohibit civil servants only from covering their faces, along withothergeneral rules for religious accommodations which he says fall in line with the report of the Bouchard-Taylor Commission and many of the recommendations adopted by the previous Liberal government.

Although the exact contents of the PQ's charter have not been released, it is expected to propose banning any civil servant from wearing a religious symbolsuch ascrosses, kippas and hijabsin the workplace.

• 'Charter of Quebec Values' will unite province: Marois
• Philippe Couillard stands firm against secular charter

The charter of values was scheduled to be made public on Sept. 9;however, thegovernmentsays it ispostponing the publication by a "few days."

Premier says hijabs likely banned for civil servants

Premier Pauline Marois toldRadio-Canada today that civil servantswho represent the statemust project a neutral image on the job and are free towearany religious symbols they want in private.

Maroissaid hijabs are obvious religious symbols and would likely be banned for workers in the public sector.

"[The hijab] isa gesture of submission in many cases. In some cases I know it's not, but I listened to a young Muslim woman who said, 'you know, when I arrive at work I take off the veil. I don't need to wear the veil there. After that, when I leave I put it on because it's important to me,'" said Marois.

Couillard said he objects to the government's stance that the charter would promote equality between men and women.

"Its a very strange strategy, by the way, that in order to achieve emancipation of Muslim women, you bar them from working," said Couillard. "I find it extremely objectionable."

Hadia Sawaf, a21-year-old Montrealer who wears the hijab,says the charter willtarget Muslimwomen more than men.

"It... would have more effect on women, because women who work in public areas and public places, they're going to have to either quit or take off the hijab," said Sawaf.