Muslim Women Must Remove Veil For Canadian Citizenship Oath

The Vancouver Sun reports that Canada's Immigration Minister Jason Kenney last week announced a new rule that requires those being naturalized as Canadian citizens to show their faces while taking the citizenship oath.  This means that Muslim women will be required to remove full face veils during the naturalization ceremony.  Kenney explained the reasons for the new rule, which is effective immediately:

Requiring that all candidates show their faces while reciting the oath allows judges, and everyone present to share in the ceremony, to ensure that all citizenship candidates are, in fact, taking the oath as required by law. This is not simply a practical measure. It is a matter of deep principle that goes to the heart of our identity and our values of openness and equality.