Canada Prime Minister Justin Trudeau responded to the criticism targeting the Canadian education system, which has sparked concerns among Muslim communities for including LGBTQ rights in classes.
The accusations surfaced online following a recent voice recording, documenting the moment when a school teacher publicly attacked Muslim students for skipping LGBT-themed activities during the “pride month” in June.
Yelling at Muslim students inside the classroom, the teacher was heard saying: “It goes two ways! If you want to be respected for who you are, if you don’t want to suffer prejudice for your religion, your color of skin, your whatever, then you better give it back to people who are different than you.”
She went on to refer to Uganda executing people if they think an individual is gay.
“If you believe that kind of thing, then you don’t belong here, because that is what Canada believes. We believe in freedom,” she said.
The recording sparked outrage among Muslim communities in Canada, who feel their children are being subjected to imposed LGBTQ activities that stand against their religious values.
In response, Trudeau reassured the Muslim community that his education curriculum does not impose LGBT activities on their children.
In an exchange video between Trudeau and some concerned parents posted last week, the Canadian PM said: “I’ve heard this concern many, many times and I know that it is a very real issue.”
“There is a lot that is being said out there about aggressive teaching or conversion of kids to being LGBT,” Trudeau said, stressing that it “is something that is being weaponized by people not doing it because of their interest in supporting the Muslim community.”