Jason Kenney says 'people like' Naheed Nenshi politicize niqab, sparks #PeopleLikeNenshi

Canadians on Twitter flocked to support Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi in a war of words with Conservative candidate Jason Kenney.

Nenshi called debate about niqab 'disgusting' and 'unbelievably dangerous stuff'

CBC News Posted: Oct 02, 2015 11:53 AM EDT | Last Updated: October 3, 2015

Naheed Nenshi on the niqab debate

9 years ago

9:57

The mayor of Calgary speaks to Wendy Mesley about the niqab issue.

Some Twitter users are flockingto support Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi in a war of words with Conservative candidate Jason Kenney.

Nenshi decried the Conservatives' position that women should be banned from wearing niqabs during citizenship ceremonies, calling the politics surrounding thedebate "disgusting" and "unbelievablydangerous stuff" in a Sirius XM radio interview with Evan Solomon on Wednesday.

Kenney shot back in an interview with Postmedia on Thursday, saying, "it seems to me that it's the mayor and people like him who are politicizing it."

The mayor responded on Twitter by questioning Kenney's turn of phrase.

"People like me", eh? Let's just assume @jkenney means "thoughtful people", shall we? https://t.co/rkN9xyPHHi
—@nenshi

Nenshi's tweethas received more than 1,000 retweetssince Thursday.

Many pledged support for the Calgary mayor, using the hashtag #PeopleLikeNenshi, coined by the Edmonton Journal's Paula Simons. The tag quickly shot up the trending lists, with more than 3,500 appearances in the last 12 hours.

In fact, I think @Marty_Chan needs to start a new hashtag - perhaps #peoplelikeNenshi #elxn42 #yyc
—@Paulatics

Mark my words: #peoplelikeNenshi will be Jason Kenney's #mathishard moment.
—@heckiosa

#peoplelikeNenshi make me proud to be Canadian
—@IanCordingley

I'm a proud progressive Albertan. And the fear mongering/racist rhetoric does not represent me. Thank you @nenshi #peoplelikenenshi.
—@Lana__Michelle

I believe that forcing a woman out of a Niqab is just the same as forcing one into one, agree or not it is a choice. #peoplelikenenshi
—@GlynnP75

I wish we have more #PeopleLikeNenshi in politics everywhere in this country. Great leaders, thoughtful, funny, and committed to people.
—@EdwardBDodd

Several NDP and Liberal politicians, includingJustin Trudeau, also tweeted support.

Canada is lucky to have #peoplelikeNenshi who stand up to the politics of fear & division. Thank you @nenshi for joining this conversation.
—@JustinTrudeau

It is #peoplelikeNenshi who remind me that there is still a lot of love, hope, and optimism in this world. #vancentre pic.twitter.com/OYaMjCcMeN
—@ConstanceBarnes

Others defended Kenney and said his comments were being misread.

If you think Kenney was taking a race or religion based shot at Nenshi, you're completely oblivious to his Ministeral career. #cdnpoli
—@BRinYWG

Once again Nenshi acts morally superior and discounts anyone's opinion but his own. The purple clown show continues. http://t.co/HFmGdRQJfR
—@bcm010

Once again at the centre of a Twitter trend, Nenshi took time to make some light-hearted comments.

@nenshi @jkenney Mayors?
—@Lazin_Ryder

That must be what he meant. https://t.co/cVBvsCwMMi
—@nenshi

He even offered what could be seen as an olive branch to Kenney.

@nenshi handsome single men?
—@PatsyBing

He definitely didn't mean that, since he's be on that list too. @jkenney https://t.co/wY2fO4BRst
—@nenshi

On Friday,Kenneydenied that hiscommenthad anything to do withNenshi'sreligion or ethnicity.

"He's a friend of mine. He knows how close I am to all of the cultural, ethnicand religious communities in Canada, particularly his ownIsmailicommunity,"Kenneysaid during an interview on Solomon'sradio programEverything isPolitical.

He said it was "completely ridiculous" to suggestthat his comments were about religion or ethnicity."I think I referred to politically correct liberals who were politicizing this issue."

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