FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Canadian Imams Concerned Over Proposed Amendments to Bill C-9 Targeting Religious Freedoms
December 2, 2025 – Ottawa, ON – The Canadian Council of Imams (CCI) is deeply concerned by reports that the Liberal Party and the Bloc Québécois are considering amendments to Bill C-9 that would repeal protections in paragraph 319(3)(b) of the Criminal Code.
This provision currently ensures that no individual can be convicted under Canada’s hate speech laws for expressing, in good faith, an opinion on a religious subject or for citing a religious text. Repealing this safeguard could expose Canadians to criminal liability simply for reading, teaching, or discussing passages from sacred texts, such as the Qur’an, the Bible, the Torah, and other classical or historical religious writings.
It must be emphasized that the concern is not with criminalizing genuine hate speech. Rather, it is with the risk that religious texts, which are not inherently hateful, could be misinterpreted according to evolving societal norms, leaving enforcement at the discretion of the Crown and law enforcement agencies, and thus creating a chilling effect on religious education, discourse, and worship.
The Canadian Council of Imams unequivocally rejects any attempt to curtail religious freedoms. We urge all Parliamentarians to uphold the Charter-protected right of Canadians to freely study, teach, and discuss their faith traditions while continuing to ensure safety, dignity, and security for all.
About the Canadian Council of Imams
The Canadian Council of Imams (CCI) is an independent, non-profit organization uniting over 100 Imams and Islamic religious leaders across Canada. Established in 1990, CCI supports Imams in their spiritual and community leadership roles while serving as a trusted source of Islamic guidance for Canadian Muslims, government bodies, and the public.
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