Quebec teacher removed from classroom for wearing hijab under law banning religious symbols

An elementary school teacher in Chelsea, Que., says she was told she could no longer teach in class because she wears a hijab, which is Quebec law under Bill 21.

After working several months as a substitute teacher with the Western Quebec School Board, Fatemeh Anvari says she was asked to apply for a more permanent position teaching a Grade 3 class at Chelsea Elementary School.

Anvari began that job earlier this fall, but after just one month she says the school principal told her she had to move to a position outside the classroom because she wears a hijab.

The principal told her the decision was made after a discussion with the school board's human resources department.

"Honestly, at that second, it was just shock. It was very hard to process," Anvari told CBC.

WATCH | Quebec teacher removed from classroom over religious symbols ban:

Province appealed exemption

Under a fairly new Quebec law, also known as Bill 21, some civil servants in positions of authority — including teachers — can't wear religious symbols while at work.

A recent decision by the Quebec Court of Appeal, the province's highest court, denied a request by the English Montreal School Board to uphold an exemption of English school boards from the law.

A Quebec Superior Court judge had ruled that English school boards should be exempt from the law, saying the boards' desire to foster diversity by choosing who they hire is protected by the minority-language education rights in the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. But the Quebec government soon appealed that exemption, meaning it can't be applied until the appeals court hears the case.

Meanwhile, there are several court challenges against the law, which could last years and eventually make their way to the Supreme Court.

Anvari says the hijab is now part of her identity.

"Yes, I am Muslim, but for me, [the hijab] holds other meanings of just my identity and how I've chosen to represent myself as a strong person in a world that may not want me to be myself," she said.

"But it's still a religious symbol at the end of the day, so that's why it has a conflict with the law."

WATCH | 'It's discrimination:' Parents upset as Quebec teacher reassigned over Bill 21:

Teacher, parents blame law, not school

Neither Anvari nor the parents who spoke with CBC blame the school, which they all said fosters a welcoming and inclusive atmosphere. Instead, the parents say the law, Bill 21, should never have been passed.

"I'd like [the government] to see what it's like for an eight-year-old to lose their teacher because of something like this," said Kirsten Taylor-Bosman, whose daughter attended class with "Ms. Fatemeh," as students call her.

Taylor-Bosman said she was initially surprised when she received a letter from the school principal indicating Anvari would leave after just one month, but that quickly evolved into shock and anger once she learned why.

"It was just awful, really upsetting," she said. "These are not the values that we teach our children. So it's really hard to explain this to our kids."

Due to privacy reasons, the Western Quebec School Board would not confirm why the teacher had been reassigned. The board said, like all Quebec school boards, it must comply with the province's laws, including Bill 21.

"In the English community, we're not in favour of this bill. We find it discriminatory, but as citizens of the province of Quebec, we are expected to follow the law and will do so," said interim board chairman Wayne Daly.

Heidi Yetman, president of the teachers union that represents Anvari, said her union has always been against the bill, especially since it unfairly targets women.

"It's really sad because it puts like a grey cloud over this province," she said. "It's very sad to hear that there are students who enjoyed this teacher since the fall and now have found themselves without a teacher."

Taylor-Bosman wants the Quebec government to explain its opposition to diversity and this case of "discrimination."

WATCH | Western Quebec School Board on reassigning teacher who wears hijab:

In an ironic twist, Anvari continues to work at the school on a literacy project for students targeting inclusion and awareness of diversity, although she acknowledges it is still a teaching opportunity.

"[It's important] to educate and to raise awareness on these topics so that the kids are well aware of what's going on around them," she said.

"I think that it was a great way to navigate the situation by the school and the school board."

'Not a story just about me'

A growing assortment of green ribbons — green is Anvari's favourite colour — were seen tied to the chain-link fence outside the school this week where a sign sits asking people to tie a ribbon to oppose Bill 21.

The school community has rallied around the teacher and organized a letter-writing campaign to the school board, Quebec Premier François Legault and CAQ MNA Robert Bussière, who represents the area.

A protest was also planned for this Sunday.

Anvari said she's seen the cards, drawings and ribbons and knows the local community is behind her, and she hopes the government takes notice about what children could inadvertently learn from Bill 21.

"This is not a story just about me. I think it's a story about humans and how we live amongst each other and just to be accepting of any difference, whatever that may be: race, religion, gender identity, cultural background," she said.

"I think [the support] just shows that kids think beyond all of these labels. They just think of love and they think of compassion and and that makes me so hopeful."

WATCH | How Quebec's religious symbols law has changed the lives of three teachers: