Canadian minister honored by Muslims

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TORONTO, Jan. 23 (UPI) -- The Canadian immigration minister who banned the face-covering burqa in citizenship courts was honored by a Muslim group Sunday.

The Muslim Canadian Congress praised Jason Kenney at a Toronto reception for prohibiting new citizens from wearing the apparel during swearing-in ceremonies, clothing described by former Congress President Farzana Khan as symbols of gender inequality and Islamic extremism, the Toronto Sun reported.

Kenney was urged to extend the ban to all public sector work, something he said he would consider, adding that 81percent of Canadian citizens agreed with him on the swearing-in issue.

"For me it's a simple principle," he said. "People take a public oath publicly."