Quebec renews call for Canada’s anti-Islamophobia adviser to resign

Adviser sent letters recommending universities to hire more professors of Muslim, Palestinian backgrounds

The Quebec government has once again called for the resignation of Amira Elghawaby, Canada’s anti-Islamophobia adviser, after she sent a letter recommending universities hire more professors of Muslim, Arab, and Palestinian backgrounds.

The letter, dated August 30, was sent to university leaders and suggested ways to ease tensions on campuses following the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war in October 2023.

Elghawaby’s letter highlighted a “dangerous climate” on university campuses and proposed supporting academic freedom, briefing campus leaders on civil liberties and Islamophobia, and increasing the representation of Muslim, Arab, and Palestinian professors.

However, this suggestion sparked immediate backlash from Quebec’s Minister of Higher Education, Pascale Déry.

She condemned Elghawaby’s remarks, stating that hiring based on religion goes against Quebec’s secularism principles.

Déry called for Elghawaby’s resignation, writing on X (formerly Twitter), "Amira Elghawaby needs to mind her own business... She has no legitimacy to ask our colleges and universities what to do."

Déry further argued that the primary issue on campuses is not Islamophobia but antisemitism, and promised to work toward ensuring a safe and inclusive environment for all students.

Quebec Premier François Legault also condemned Elghawaby’s suggestion, stating it was “totally unacceptable” to prioritize hiring based on religion in a secular state.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, while addressing the matter in Montreal, acknowledged that universities have their own hiring policies and did not call for Elghawaby’s resignation.

This prompted Legault to criticize Trudeau for not taking a stronger stance.

Elghawaby, who was appointed in January 2023, has faced previous clashes with Quebec authorities, notably over the province’s ban on public sector workers wearing religious symbols.

She had apologized for earlier comments criticizing Quebec’s secularism policies.