Lunch & Learn Recap: Employment Challenges for Muslim Women in Québec
On November 7, members of the CCMW Quebec Chapter - Samaa Elibyari and Shaheen Ashraf - joined lawyer Sahar Talebi to deliver an impactful Lunch & Learn session on the Employment Situation for Muslim Women in Québec. Their presentation shed light on the systemic barriers Muslim women continue to face, and highlighted CCMW’s ongoing advocacy in the courts, in communities, and with government bodies.
About the Session
The speakers outlined the serious implications of Bill 21, Quebec’s Act respecting the laicity of the State, which restricts government employees- including teachers, police officers, and others, from wearing religious symbols such as hijabs, kippahs, or turbans while performing their duties.
CCMW has been granted leave to intervene at the Supreme Court of Canada in English Montreal School Board v. Attorney General of Quebec, a landmark case challenging Bill 21.
In its intervention, CCMW argues that courts retain the authority and the responsibility to review legislation enacted under section 33, the notwithstanding clause. Judicial review remains essential to ensuring that the experiences and harms faced by marginalized groups, including Muslim women, are recognized, documented, and addressed.
The session explored the real-world employment challenges created by Bill 21 and similar policies, and emphasized how legal advocacy, community engagement, and public education remain core to CCMW’s mission.
Meet the Presenters
Samaa Elibyari
President of the CCMW Quebec Chapter, Samaa has served as the organization’s liaison with the Quebec government since the 2007 Bouchard-Taylor Commission. She has been a leading voice on issues of secularism, presenting CCMW’s positions on legislation such as Bill 21.
Her extensive community work includes roles with Muslim Awareness Week, Montreal’s police service (SPVM), and decades of media engagement as a radio host and producer. In 2019, she received CCMW’s Women Who Inspire Award for her outstanding contributions.
Shaheen Ashraf
Secretary of the CCMW Quebec Chapter, Shaheen has built a longstanding career in community service and advocacy. She holds a diploma in hotel management and previously worked as a full-time partner in a ship-brokering company. A dedicated volunteer, Shaheen has contributed to numerous dialogue and advocacy organizations and has been an active member of Toastmasters International since 2003, achieving Distinguished Toastmaster (DTM) status.
Shaheen also sits on the boards of West Island Citizens’ Advocacy and the Senior Abuse Committee. Her work is grounded in a deep commitment to justice and equity for all.
Sahar Talebi
Sahar is a litigation lawyer with significant expertise in injunctions, civil fraud matters, and complex commercial disputes. She has appeared on urgent matters such as Mareva and Anton Piller orders and has acted as an Independent Supervising Solicitor.
Her work spans clients across financial institutions, corporations, NGOs, and regulators. Sahar holds Canadian and American law degrees through the University of Windsor and the University of Detroit Mercy, where she earned top academic honours and contributed to numerous access-to-justice initiatives. She has also clerked for the Chief Judge of the U.S. Federal Court for the Eastern District of Michigan.