Niqab ban prevented 2 women from proceeding with citizenship oath

Since the Conservative government implemented a policy in 2011stating that candidates for citizenship must remove any kind of face covering when taking the publiccitizenship oath, only two womenhave decided to not go through with the ceremony.

"Citizenship applications have not been refused based on the 2011 policy," saidSonia Lesage, a spokeswoman for Citizenship and Immigration Canada."We are only aware of two individuals who have chosen not to proceed to the citizenship ceremony based on the requirement to remove their face coverings."

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The controversy centres aroundthe case ofZuneraIshaq, a Pakistani womanand devout Sunni Muslim who is seeking Canadian citizenship.Based on her religious beliefs,Ishaqwearsaniqab, or veil, to cover most of her face when out in public.

It's not known how manywomen are dissuaded from seeking citizenship because of the niqab ban.

The wearing of the niqabduring the citizenship oathhas become a controversialelectionissue. NDP Leader Tom Mulcair, Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau and Green Party Leader Elizabeth May oppose the ban, while Conservative Leader Stephen Harper and Bloc Qubcois Leader Gilles Duceppe support it.

In 2011, then immigration ministerJason Kenney issued a new policy manualstating that candidates for citizenship must remove any kind of face covering when taking the publiccitizenship oath.

While applying for citizenship in2013, Ishaq had agreed tounveil herself to an official before taking the citizenship test. But she objected to removing her niqab at the public swearing-in ceremony.

Ishaq, a permanent resident, later sued the government, arguing, in part, that the ban against her wearing the niqab during the ceremonywas an infringement of her charter rights.

A Federal Court judge ruled against thefederal government and struck down the ban. The federal government appealed that decision, but lost that as well.

The government said it would appeal the matter to the Supreme Court, while vowing to reintroduce the niqab ban within 100 days of re-election.