Defending the subjugation of women under the guise of religious piety or cultural relativism is inexcusable. When Canada appeases a belief system that demands men and women of no relationship are forbidden from physical contact, it encourages cultural segregation and division. In Canada, men and women are equal, period. Instead we get private schools teaching girls they must cover up to avoid men's advances, how "progressive".
In Iran, women are clubbed for not covering their hair in public and "there are no gays". Why do self-titled "progressives" in the west turn a blind eye to the regressive nature of societies "governed" by Islamic law - it has nothing to do with cultural relativism, it is about universal interpretations of right and wrong. There is nothing "immodest" about refusing to cover one's hair - the idea that hair encourages unwanted advances from men is pathetic.  Men and women are equal in the west, not because of cultural relativism - but because of progress.