Quebec group: Restrict religious clothing

MONTREAL, Sept. 28 (UPI) -- The Quebec Council on the Status of Women has asked the provincial government to ban public employees from wearing religious clothing.

Christiane Pelchat, the council president, said the only religious symbols that should be allowed are those like crosses or Stars of David worn on chains that are or can be hidden, The Montreal Gazette reported. She said headscarves worn by Muslim women and yarmulkes worn by some Jewish men should be banned.

Teachers, especially, should not wear religious clothing, Pelchat said.

"Teachers are role models and they should be promoting equality between men and women," Pelchat said. "Because you prevent someone from wearing a hijab, it doesn't mean you are preventing them from believing."

A commission is holding hearings on accommodating religious and ethnic minority groups in Quebec. Pelchat said the council plans to testify before the commission.