Saskatchewan respondents in a recent survey were more likely to support people wearing a nun’s habit, a crucifix or the Star of David than the niqab, hijab or a kirpan.
The results don’t fit with Labiba Aboguddah’s experience as a young Muslim woman born and raised in Regina. “No one ever was rude or made fun of me. I never felt like I don’t fit in,” said the University of Regina student and a member of the Muslim Students Association.
Aboguddah, of Syrian heritage, wears a hijab or head scarf as part of her Islamic faith and often an abaya, a black, dress-like garment.
As with a nun’s choice to cover up, Aboguddah noted, “everyone has their definition of modesty.”
A recent national poll delving into everything from homegrown terrorism and radicalization to religious tolerance found 30 per cent of Saskatchewan respondents opposed wearing of the hijab in public - on par with the results across the country. There was even more opposition to the niqab - which covers the face exposing only a woman’s eyes - at 73 per cent.
University of Saskatchewan adjunct professor Ron Wheeler, who teaches about terrorism and international politics, believes it may reflect a distrust of certain religious groups, at a time when Muslim extremists dominate the news.
“It’s not surprising to me, if you have Muslims that are covered, there’s something more frightening about that to ordinary Canadians, even though that’s normal, typical, part of their religion. For those who don’t understand that very well or are fearful of Muslims, it’s not surprising - disappointing - but not surprising,” he added.
For her part, Aboguddah has found acceptance, not animosity.
“They make me feel like this is my country and I belong here. And I’m just like anyone else,” she said, noting her friend wears a niqab and shares her positive experience.
The survey was conducted by The Vancouver Province with the Race Relations Council of Canada, The Laurier Institution, Simon Fraser University and the Angus Reid Institute. Some 1,600 Canadians - 95 from Saskatchewan - responded to the poll between Nov. 10 to 12.
Participants were also asked about the wearing of other religious symbols in public. Among the Saskatchewan respondents, 11 per cent opposed the crucifix, 13 per cent nun’s habit, 16 per cent Star of David, 26 per cent kippa (also known as a yarmulke or cap worn in the Jewish faith) and 72 per cent the kirpan.
The kirpan is a small ceremonial sword or dagger carried by baptized Sikhs. Kuldit Sahota, president of Sikh Society of Regina, describes it as a symbol of God’s grace. “It’s not a weapon. It’s a defence,” he added.
Sahota, in Canada for 40 years, has never known anyone to have a problem with those carrying a kirpan.
He recalled one man coming to the temple with something closer to a machete than a kirpan.
“We just told him in the church, no, that’s wrong,” said Sahota.
While Sikh radicals have made news in B.C., Sahota said no such problems have arisen here. And he hopes it stays that way.
“We are totally against violence.”
It’s a sentiment shared by Dr. Habib Rehman, president of Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat (AMJ), Regina Chapter. In the wake of the attacks in Ottawa and Quebec by two radicalized Canadian men, Rehman helped organize a rally in Regina decrying such violence.
The head of the AMJ community “had instructed us that we should raise our voice against terrorism throughout Canada,” Rehman explained.
“We believe in peace,” he added.
One sign at the rally suggested extremists are “highjacking” the Muslim religion.
“People are using the Holy Qur’an and the sayings of the holy prophet to meet their own selfish needs. They are distorting the religion and presenting it in a violent way, which it is not at all,” said Rehman.
Likewise, the Islamic Association of Saskatchewan took to the Internet to “condemn in the strongest words the barbaric attacks against our fellow Canadians.”
It’s actions like those that seem at odds with the perceptions reflected in the survey. It found 76 per cent of Saskatchewan respondents felt Muslim community leaders are not speaking out enough against homegrown terrorism. Nationally, the number was 73 per cent.
Saskatchewan respondents were more evenly split on whether the Muslim community is part of the problem of radicalization (54 per cent agreed) or a partner in the fight against it in Canada (48 per cent said yes.)
Everyone interviewed for this series, from terrorism professors to religious community members, were unanimous in saying education is key - whether it’s educating Muslims and non-Muslims alike about the mainstream religion, helping to prevent people from becoming radicalized or in combating intolerance.
“We say in Islam we can’t go against any religion, we can’t hate people for no reason. We have to treat people good,” said Aboguddah. “And that includes every single person. It doesn’t matter which religion they believe in.”