Muslim groups to launch complaint over town's immigrant code

MONTREAL (CBC) - Two prominent Canadian Muslim groups want to file a human rights complaint over immigrant policies recently adopted in a rural Quebec town.

The Canadian Islamic Congress (CIC) and the Canadian Muslim Forum claim Hérouxville's new code of conduct for immigrants fuels negative stereotypes of ethnic minorities and violates the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

CIC chair Mohamed Elmasry told CBC that the groups will file a complaint with the Quebec Human Rights Commission if Hérouxville does not retract its code.

He said the code is regressive with racist undertones.

"We're greatly disappointed. The Québécois are famous for their liberal attitude," he said Monday. "This declaration, although it doesn't have a legal impact ... it is against Canadian values, and it is against Article 27 of the Canadian Charter."

The town's code, adopted Jan. 25, spells out behaviour "expected" from newcomers who choose to settle in the Mauricie region town outside Trois-Rivières.

Among other rules, it bans kirpans and head scarves except on Halloween, and says women can drive and write cheques but cannot be stoned to death.

Elmasry said he hopes to meet with town officials in the coming days, around "tea and cookies" to talk about "who are the Muslims in their country."

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