Just one
quarter finds niqab ‘offensive'
Majority opposes allowing niqab during citizenship ceremonies
TORONTO, March
12th, 2015 - In a random sampling of public opinion taken by The
Forum Poll™ among 454 Toronto voters, just more than a quarter of voters agree the niqab is
offensive to Canadians (28%) or that it is offensive to themselves (25%). This
increases to one half among federal Conservatives (offensive to Canadians -
50%, to themselves - 41%) and two thirds among those who dislike Muslims (63%
and 58%, respectively).
Majority opposes niqab in citizenship ceremonies
Just more than half of Toronto voters
oppose allowing women to wear the niqab during citizenship ceremonies (57%),
while one quarter favour the idea (27%). Virtually all federal Conservative
voters oppose the niqab (85%), as do those who dislike Muslims (86%) and those
who voted for Doug Ford in the last mayoral election (77%).
One fifth dislike Muslims, twice that among Conservatives
Close to one fifth have negative feelings
about Muslim people (18%), and this compares to one tenth who have negative
feelings about black people and South Asian people (10% each), Jews and Asians
(7% each), and white people (4%). Dislike of Muslims is twice as high among
federal Conservative voters (36%) and those who voted for Doug Ford in the last
mayoral election (33%).
Close to half finds niqab oppresses women
Close
to one half of Toronto voters agree the niqab oppresses women (46%), while one
quarter find it does not (25%). Three-in-ten have no opinion (30%). Males (45%)
and females (46%) are equally likely to agree, while two thirds of federal
Conservatives (66%) and three quarters of those who dislike Muslims (74%) agree
as well.
"Toronto, a community of
nationalities, is a good lens to look at the niqab issue through; it is clear
the Liberals and Conservatives have staked out very identifiable positions
which are aligned with the sentiments of their respective bases. Throughout
this poll, we find the Conservatives pitted against the niqab, while the
Liberals express more tolerance. These partisan differences outweigh almost
every other demographic factor including gender, age and ethnic background," said Forum
Research President, Dr. Lorne Bozinoff.
Lorne Bozinoff, Ph.D. is the president and founder of Forum
Research. He can be reached at lbozinoff@forumresearch.com or at (416)
960-9603.
