MONTREAL—The Quebec government’s secularism legislation threatens to stall promising careers, embolden intolerant segments of society and turn religious minorities into second-class citizens, two teachers who stand to be affected by the bill said Thursday. The bill tabled by François Legault’s Coalition Avenir Quebec government on Thursday would ban the wearing of religious symbols by many public sector employees, including teachers, prosecutors, judges, and police officers. The Montreal-area resident said the proposed legislation is “highly discriminatory” and implies people who wear religious symbols don’t have the same rights as others. “This just sends the message to people who wears religious symbols that we are secondary citizens,” she said in a phone interview. Currently, there are no Montreal police officers who wear religious symbols targeted by the bill.

Source: thestar March 28, 2019 21:45 UTC