Quebec is the “epicenter” of a “serious problem of Islamophobia” raging in the country, condemned Tuesday the organization Canadians United Against Hatre, which took the opportunity to file an indictment against Bill 21.

The organization was responding to the unveiling on Monday by Angus Reid of a survey of perceptions of the country’s major religions. This ringing claim states that 52% of Quebecers have a negative opinion of Islam, compared to 39% of Canadians living in other provinces.

Various questions asked in the survey also highlighted the gap between the province of Belle and the rest of the country. For example, 72% of Canadians say they support wearing the hijab in public, a rate that drops to 55% in Quebec.

“The Canadian government and federalist leaders in Ottawa must confront the elephant in the room, which is an ingrained Islamophobia that is concentrated in Quebec but widespread across the country,” said Canadians United Against Hate founder Fareed Khan .

Mr Khan took the opportunity to demand that federal politicians address the State Secularism Act, or Bill 21, which restricts the wearing of religious symbols by those in positions of authority.

“If you want to meaningfully address Islamophobia in Canada, you must begin by addressing the bigotry and human rights abuses inherent in Bill 21,” he said, scourging “the deference and prostration of federal leaders to the Quebec government.”

This release comes on the eve of the first UN-decreed International Day Against Islamophobia. This day takes place every year on March 15, the day of the two mosque killings in Christchurch, New Zealand that left 51 dead and 40 injured in 2019.