🇨🇦 A Quebec Judge Says What Ottawa Won't: No Sharia Exceptions in Canadian Courtrooms

A married immigrant named Raed Ahmad Sariss stalked a woman 22 years his junior for six months, breached his release conditions to watch her at her home, and told the court he did nothing wrong because polygamy is permitted under Sharia Law. His defence lawyer's ask: a conditional discharge — meaning no conviction, no criminal record, no deportation. Quebec provincial court Judge Dennis Galiatsatos said no, and ruled explicitly that Canada cannot operate a parallel justice system where immigration consequences soften sentences for non-citizens. That's a statement that should be carved above the entrance to every federal courthouse in this country. The Crown asked for six to nine months. The judge gave 75 days intermittent. Still too light — but the principle matters. Conservatives have a private member's bill, C-220, that would formally prohibit judges from factoring in deportation risk. The Liberals have shown zero interest. The contrast between one honest Quebec judge and the federal government's entire posture on this issue could not be sharper.

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