Speaker of Ontario Legislature Upholds Keffiyeh Scarf Ban Despite Premier’s Protest

A young woman helps a child adjust his keffiyeh during a demonstration in Lisbon on April 7, 2024. The Canadian Press/AP/Armando Franca

The speaker of the Ontario Legislature has upheld a ban on wearing keffiyeh scarves in the chamber, after failing to get a unanimous vote on the issue as politicians from various parties, including Ontario Premier Doug Ford, have criticized the policy.

On April 18, Speaker Ted Arnott addressed the legislature on the issue, stating that he had received letters from the NDP and the Greens to permit the wearing of the keffiyeh, a scarf worn by Palestinians and their supporters.

“As always, any member may seek the unanimous consent of the House to wear clothing, buttons, ribbons etc. which may fall outside the established rules or customs of the House. If a member sought unanimous consent to wear a kaffiyeh, and if the House were to grant such consent, I would obviously accept the decision of the House,” Mr. Arnott said.

Ontario NDP Leader Marit Stiles subsequently called a point of order and demanded the chamber vote on whether the keffiyeh could be worn, stating that the clothing item was not an expression of a political message and was culturally significant to Palestinians, Arabs, and Muslims more broadly.

After being put to a vote, Mr. Arnott claimed he heard some opposed to the NDP leader’s motion and without unanimous consent, upheld the ban.

While the legislature did not unanimously consent to the wearing of the keffiyeh, many across the political spectrum have called on the speaker to reverse the ban, including Premier Doug Ford.

“The decision to ban the keffiyeh was made by the speaker and the speaker alone. I do not support his decision as it needlessly divides the people of our province. I call on the speaker to reverse his decision immediately,” Mr. Ford wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.

NDP MPs in Ottawa have been wearing the keffiyeh in the House of Commons without issue. NDP MP Matthew Green took a vote in the House in November with a keffiyeh and a clenched fist.

Federal NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh waded into the Ontario legislature issue on April 18. “The ban on the keffiyeh in the Ontario legislature is wrong,” he said on the X platform. “I understand the importance of wearing a piece of clothing that is part of who you are and where you come from. This ban sends a clear message — who doesn’t belong in the halls of power.”

The scarf is present in the many pro-Palestinian demonstrations since Hamas launched a terrorist attack against Israel on Oct. 7, which was followed by an all-out assault in the Gaza Strip by the Israel Defense Forces.

Jewish advocacy group B'nai Brith says it “commends” Mr. Arnott’s decision to ban the scarf at Queen’s Park. “The keffiyeh’s innocuous origins as a cultural symbol have been corrupted by radicals,” the group wrote on X on April 17. “It has become a divisive symbol that is used to incite.” 

B'nai Brith also encourages other provincial legislatures and the federal Parliament to take a similar approach.