December 15, 2026

The Muslim Association of Canada (MAC) supports strong action to combat hate in Canada and foster cohesion in society. However, you cannot fight hate by criminalizing faith. 

MAC strongly opposes Bill C-9 and the amendment to remove Section 319(3)(b) of the Criminal Code. This provision protects Canadians of faith from being criminally prosecuted for good-faith religious expression. Its removal opens the door to dangerous consequences.

Under this bill, religious leaders, particularly Muslim imams and scholars, could face criminal charges simply for quoting scripture or delivering sermons. A Qur’anic verse in a Friday khutbah, a discussion on morality, or a heartfelt supplication, including one regarding injustice and oppression, could be easily misconstrued and lead to unwarranted criminal prosecution. 

For years, anti-Muslim actors have twisted Qur’anic verses and mistranslated supplications to frame Islam as hateful. These tactics have been used by far-right networks, certain lobby groups, and even elected officials. In Canada, we’ve also seen police and government agencies, including the CRA, the CBSA, and others rely on such disinformation to justify discriminatory actions against Muslims.

MAC has experienced this firsthand when it was subjected to discriminatory practices by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA), which attempted to determine which aspects of Islam were acceptable and unjustly labeled others as hateful. MAC challenged the CRA’s overreach in the Ontario Superior Court, defending the constitutional rights of all Canadian Muslims. The court explicitly warned that government agencies must not interfere in matters of faith. Yet instead of heeding that warning, the government is now advancing legislation that enables even deeper intrusion, this time through the full force of criminal law.

Bill C-9 was developed and amended without any consultation with Muslim communities, including MAC, the largest Muslim organization in Canada. This exclusion is both unacceptable and deeply concerning.

This bill fails to strike the right balance. It fails Canadian Muslims as well as other faith communities. Most tragically, it fails the Charter that is meant to protect us all.

We call on the Government of Canada to withdraw Bill C-9 in its current form and to begin meaningful engagement with faith-based communities. If passed, this bill will cause lasting damage to religious freedom in Canada.