Zunera Ishaq and Immigration Department

citizenship ceremony: Ishaq, a 29-year-old woman with devout Muslim beliefs who came to Ontario from Pakistan in 2008, refused to take part in a citizenship ceremony because she would have to show her face, according to The Chronicle Herald. The swift ruling left Ishaq speechless, although she said she looks forward to voting. The three justices ruled from the bench, saying they wanted to proceed quickly so that Zunera Ishaq, the woman who initially challenged the ban, can obtain her citizenship in time to vote in the Oct. 19 federal election. One of her lawyers, Marlys Edwardh, said the Immigration Department would be contacted this week so she could attend a citizenship ceremony — accompanied by her lawyers just in case. Justice Department lawyer Peter Southey argued unsuccessfully that the lower court justice made errors in his original decision to overturn the ban. The Harper government rule banning face coverings at such ceremonies was earlier found unlawful by the Federal Court. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.