Pro-Palestinian demonstrators have “the right” to occupy the campus of McGill University, according to Canada’s special representative in charge of the fight against Islamophobia, Amira Elghawaby, even if it is up to the administration to “determine the boundaries “.
“It’s really important that we protect the right of expression, freedoms,” she said in an interview in French with Duty. “Students have been protesting against issues that concern them for a long time in Canadian history. So, it’s a part of our history and I think they have the right to do it,” added Mme Elghawaby.
On the other hand, “if there is something that the police or the administration find to be going beyond the line of the law, consequences should be taken,” she added, without specifying what this would consist of.
Amira Elghawaby testified Monday morning on the increase in Islamophobia in the country before the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights, which began a study on “Islamophobia and additional measures that could be taken to respond to fears legitimate rights expressed by the Muslim community of Canada.
It’s been more than a month since students pitched tents on the McGill University campus. On May 15, the Superior Court rejected a request for a provisional injunction made by the establishment.
The Prime Minister of Quebec, François Legault, has expressed several times that the encampment must be dismantled. For its part, Ottawa remained evasive on the subject. The federal Minister of Justice, Arif Virani, affirmed that it was the responsibility of McGill University to “manage” the situation of the pro-Palestinian demonstrators installed on its campus.
This report is supported by the Local Journalism Initiative, funded by the Government of Canada.
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