British Columbia Civil Liberties Association | 22 October 2002 | For Immediate Release

Civil Rights Group Opposes Claim of Religious Discrimination as Thinly Veiled Attack on Free Speech

The B.C. Civil Liberties Association will hold a press conference on Monday June 23 at 9:45 am on the Courthouse steps (Nelson and Hornby entrance) to discuss the case of Maughan v. The University of British Columbia, Lorraine Weir, et al.

Cynthia Maughan was a student in a graduate seminar taught by Professor Weir several years ago. She claims that UBC and Professor Weir discriminated against her because of her religious beliefs in several ways.

Craig Jones, a past BCCLA President, will discuss the Association's opposition to Ms. Maughan's legal claim because of its negative impact on freedom of speech and academic freedom.

Ms. Maughan is suing UBC, Professor Weir and other professors at UBC under an obsolete statute called the Civil Rights Protection Act that was passed by the province in 1981 to combat hateful expressions and conduct. The B.C. Civil Liberties Association opposes the Civil Rights Protection Act as an unreasonable interference with freedom of expression.

 

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