“(Labour Minister Yasir Naqvi) is going to reinforce that he does not support the position of the book,” Premier Kathleen Wynne said Tuesday, as opposition parties raised questions about his judgment.
“Any acceptance of violence against women is not acceptable to me.”
Naqvi scrambled to distance himself from remarks that appeared in the “reviews” section of a book on Islam that states a case for men physically punishing their wives for being lewd or disobedient.
“I strongly condemn violence against women,” Naqvi said in a statement.
“I believe that abuse of any kind is unacceptable and I do not share the views expressed in this book.”
Naqvi said he received a letter about the book from author Suhail Kapoor in 2009 at his Ottawa Centre constituency office, and replied to acknowledge the effort.
Those remarks were reprinted in the “reviews” section of Kapoor’s Islam: Balancing Life and Beyond. Naqvi was quoted as saying: “I admire your drive to reach out to the public and promote values of tolerance, understanding and respect.”
Naqvi, who noted he twice proposed private members bills to combat domestic violence as a backbench MPP, said he did not authorize the use of his comments in the book.
“I have not read it, which is clearly evident in the wording of the letter,” Naqvi added, referring to a chapter on wife beating that outlines when it is suitable for a man to lightly strike his wife’s wrist with a wooden stick.
In London, Ont., Wynne said she was satisfied with Naqvi’s response.
“It was quite clear to me that Minister Naqvi had not read the content.”
Wynne added “any acceptance of violence against women is unacceptable to me.”
Progressive Conservative Leader Tim Hudak said he was shocked at Naqvi’s remarks in the book.
“It’s very disturbing that any member of the assembly, let alone a cabinet minister, would endorse this kind of garbage,” he told reporters.
“I think that Premier Wynne needs to call her minister on the carpet to rescind his endorsement of the book and to apologize to the public.”
Original Article
Source: thestar.com
Author: Rob Ferguson
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