Ontario MPP defies order to remove keffiyeh at Queen's Park

The Canadian Press

· Posted: Apr 25, 2024 3:49 PM EDT | Last Updated: 28 minutes ago

An Ontario legislator has refused to remove her keffiyeh at Queen's Park and was subsequently banned from returning to the chamber for the rest of the day on Thursday.

Speaker Ted Arnott ordered independent member Sarah Jama to leave the chamber, but she refused.

Legislative security did not physically remove her from question period, so she remained.

Arnott said he was not prepared to remove Jama by force.

Jama said the keffiyeh ban is racist and has pledged to continue wearing the scarf.

Arnott banned the keffiyeh after deciding it was being worn to make a political statement, contrary to the rules of the assembly.

A keffiyeh is a checkered scarf typically worn in Arab cultures that has come to symbolize solidarity with Palestinians.

Ontario NDP Leader Marit Stiles commented on X, formerly Twitter, in reaction to a photo taken by Toronto Star reporter Kristin Rushowy of Jama being asked to leave the legislature. 

"The behaviour we saw in the legislature today towards an MPP is appalling," Stiles said. "The Premier and this government are sending a strong message to Arab, Muslim, Palestinians in our province, that they are not welcome here at Queen's Park. The Ontario NDP will not stand for this."

The behaviour we saw in the legislature today towards an MPP is appaling. The Premier and this government are sending a strong message to Arab, Muslim, Palestinians in our province, that they are not welcome here at Queen’s Park.⁰⁰The Ontario NDP will not stand for this. <a href="https://t.co/tnoO1MTpY4">https://t.co/tnoO1MTpY4</a>