PQ minister responsible for values charter to meet Muslim groups next week

MONTREAL – The Quebec minister responsible for the government’s proposed charter of values will meet privately with representatives of the Muslim community next week as the backlash against the Parti Quebecois plan continues to grow.

That news emerged as a coalition of Muslim groups held a news conference today to speak out against the PQ government’s proposals, which would ban the wearing of prominent religious symbols by public employees.

The group known as Quebec Muslims for Rights and Freedoms claims to represent 50 religious and secular Muslim groups.

A declaration by the coalition states that its members support the right of government employees to adhere to their political or religious beliefs, and don’t believe wearing religious symbols contradicts or affects the neutrality of the state.

They say they are against any ban on religious symbols that would restrict individuals’ freedom of beliefs and limit their employment opportunities.

A Coalition member will be among eight Muslim groups meeting with Drainville next week.A spokesman for the cabinet minister says two Muslim groups already met privately with the minister in August before Drainville publicly released his charter of values plan.

Drainville also met with representatives of the Jewish community at the time. They went public with their opposition to the proposals after details of the plan were leaked to the media.

Meanwhile, another demonstration is planned against the charter on Sunday. It’s being organized by a non-partisan group of young professionals.