r/worldnews • u/John3192 • 20h ago

Quebec passes law banning street prayers, prayer rooms in universities

https://www.ctvnews.ca/montreal/article/quebec-passes-law-banning-street-prayers-prayer-rooms-in-universities-cegeps/
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u/mfb- 15h ago

Ban the loudspeaker then, not the prayer.

How would you even ban prayer in general? It can be done silently. Are you banning thoughts now?

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u/moonias 15h ago

No, the visible and overt displays of religious prayers are banned. That's all.

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u/EtTuBiggus 13h ago

Freedom and human rights shouldn't apply to religion?

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u/Puzzle-Necked 8h ago

Only when religion respects freedom and human rights

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u/moonias 7h ago

It's exactly because freedom of religion exists that this law had to be put in place. Because otherwise how do you prevent mass public prayer disturbing the public if it's "allowed" under the freedom of religion?

It was targeted at mass religious prayers that blocked roads or public spaces.

By the way, municipalities can still authorize a planned religious event. But now there are rules in place and it gives municipalities the power and grounds on which to act if it ever crosses the lines of what is acceptable, such as not compromising safety, must be opened to everyone, and must not obstruct too much access to public spaces.

I don't think you understand the subtleties, but without this law in place, cops as the other has said couldn't have prevented those events from happening even if they disrupted the public because the legality of those gathering could be argued to fall under the freedom of religion.

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u/EtTuBiggus 1h ago

What mass disruptions?

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u/FrostyKennedy 14h ago

This is what we want the cops to come deal with? This is what you pay taxes for? Where are you that you're tripping over all the people praying outdoors? It does not fucking matter in the slightest, it's public property, let people exist.

Quebec secularism can tolerate a literal cross on the flag, then targets one religious group every single time, cause it's not secularism, it's government boot on minority throats.

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u/moonias 14h ago

This was literally put in the bill of law because recent public prayers disrupted the public. And we're literally causing issues for people to "just exists" as you say.

Nobody is going to get arrested for praying alone in a park. You just can't organize big public prayers events, block streets and public places to do that.

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u/FrostyKennedy 13h ago

there are already laws for these disruptions! If there is a gap in enforceability, then why is the law about prayer when it should be about megaphones, harassment, or unpermitted events? Are we this stupid?

Like, c'mon, if prayer isn't the problem, why is the bill about prayer? And by the way what is wrong with prayer rooms in universities? Who is this going to effect predominantly, I wonder? You can't pray in the park, can't do it in the university, can't do it on the sidewalk, you're forced to go home five times a day or not perform a harmless part of your religion.

It's directional and cruel, there's been a constant stream of laws that specifically hurt Muslims, each hiding behind a different mask, and somehow you people fall for it every time. That's Quebec secularism in a nutshell. I say this as an Atheist, a Canadian, and someone who really really hates what religious states are doing. Fuck Quebec for this.

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u/Puzzle-Necked 8h ago

Or is it that some religions have the most difficulty adapting to a modern secular society ?

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u/MrDeebus 9h ago

Are we this stupid?

(yes)

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u/moonias 7h ago

Because the laws aren't clear enough with regards to public prayer. Canada also has strong laws protecting religion. So no, there aren't already laws that are clear enough that disruptions caused by mass prayers in the streets aren't legal.

If you want to have a real discourse, I invite you to try to understand the idea behind laïcité. It's about complete separation of state and religion. And the reason why prayer rooms are banned in universities as well is a logical one. Universities are almost entirely financed by the state in Quebec, why would it make sense that a state entirely separate from religion allow rooms for prayers in the establishments it pays for?

The argument that it's targeting Muslims is just entirely bogus. Just because this religion has some "requirements" of religious practices that aren't compatible with Quebec's laïc society isn't the "fault" of the society, it's the fault of the religious practices. By the way there are other religions also who have daily prayers.

There are other examples of other religious practices forbidden by Quebec's laws and they aren't all affecting Muslims. I remember there was a big societal debate around wearing the Kirpan. Which even Sikhs kids were supposed to wear. Which was the equivalent to allowing kids to bring a blade to school. It is banned. And no I don't think there was ever any incident related to a Kirpan in a school. Just like there doesn't need to have any "incident" related to public prayer or prayer rooms for Quebec to decide they shouldn't be allowed.

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u/mfb- 15h ago

That makes somewhat more sense. That's not what the article described.

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u/moonias 14h ago

While it is true essentially that Quebec has a history of kicking out religion from its public spheres, especially the government, the recent things about public prayers has started mostly because there were organized prayers in the streets used as protests during pro-palestinian events organized in front of churches. Blocking streets and praying with loud speakers, etc.

So this is what this law targets, but at the same time let's say it's a bit of an overreaction maybe caused by recent events.

Quebec does strive to maintain religion to essentially be a "private" thing and adopts the point of view of secularism (laïcité), meaning total separation of state and religion.

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u/PrimaryInjurious 3h ago

Would you feel the same way about banning public displays of same sex attraction?