Secularism: Montreal to remove city hall welcome sign that includes woman wearing hijab [Video]

A welcome sign in the lobby of Montreal’s newly renovated city hall depicting a woman wearing a headscarf will be removed in the name of secularism, Montreal’s mayor says, following criticism that the image is offensive.

Valérie Plante said during a talk show that aired Sunday night that the drawing of a woman wearing what looks like a hijab, or Islamic headscarf, will be taken down because of the “discomfort” it causes but also because institutions must strive to be secular.

In the image, which is in the style of a pencil sketch, the woman is standing between two men — one who seems younger and is wearing a baseball cap and overcoat, and an older man with his hands crossed in front of him. “Welcome to Montreal City Hall!” is written in French above them.

“I think we can talk about diversity — the great cultural wealth of Montreal …