MEDIA ADVISORY: Canadian
Civil Liberties Association Calls for End to Prayer Recitations at Saskatoon
Government Events in Letter to Mayor Atchison
SASKATOON,
SASKATCHEWAN--(June 6, 2012) - Ashu M. G. Solo
filed a complaint against Mayor Don Atchison, Councillor Randy Donauer and the
City of Saskatoon with the Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission on May 1, 2012
after Atchison called up Donauer to try to lead a diverse audience in a
Christian prayer at a Volunteer Appreciation Banquet organized by the Mayor's
Office.
Now the Canadian
Civil Liberties Association (CCLA) has sent a letter to Atchison. The
letter by Sheetal Rawal of CCLA says it was inappropriate to have a prayer
recitation at the municipal event and calls for an end to prayer recitations at
municipal events. Rawal wrote, “The state should have no role in imposing,
endorsing or promoting a particular religion over others, nor should it
pressure or coerce an individual into a religious practice.”
See http://tinyurl.com/d7z4mug for the full letter by Rawal.
“Let people pray to their own versions of the divine
or go ahead and dine,” Solo said.
Contact Information
Ashu Solo