Former Rights & Democracy president Warren Allmand, centre, joined human rights groups in calling for a public inquiry. (CBC)

Human rights groups staged a protest outside the Montreal offices of Rights & Democracy on Friday, demanding a public inquiry into inner turmoil at the taxpayer-funded organization that promotes human rights and democratic values.

The protesters claim a public inquiry is the only way to shed light on allegations of government interference in the organization, which was created under Brian Mulroney's Conservative government.

Three staffers were suspended and then fired in early March for publicly questioning new Conservative appointees to the group's board of directors.

The demonstrators also called for the removal of the organization’s new president, Gérard Latulippe, who was appointed earlier this month, despite objections from opposition parties as well as gay rights organizations and Muslim groups.

The groups expressed concern Latulippe was heavily opposed to Muslim interest groups and opposition politicians took issue with his past statements on immigration and gay rights.

“You cannot name a president of a human rights organization that is anti-lesbian/gay, for the death penalty — those two elements alone go against all the international human rights instruments,” Alexa Conradi, president of the Quebec Women’s Federation, said on Friday.

The government’s interference is part of a broader pattern of stifling criticism against its conservative agenda, the protesters said.

“You don’t pack boards, you don’t refuse funding and put a chill in organizations that are supposed to be independent,” said former Rights & Democracy president Warren Almand. “It’s an attack on democracy as we’ve known it in this country and it should not be tolerated.”

Foreign affairs committee asking questions

On Tuesday, the three managers who were fired from Rights & Democracy will testify before the House of Commons foreign affairs committee.

On Monday, the organization’s chair, Ariel Braun, announced he was pulling out of his appearance before the committee which had been scheduled for the following day. Braun gave no reason for the last-minute cancellation.

NDP MP Paul Dewar said the foreign affairs committee might have to subpoena Braun and other Rights & Democracy board members if they refuse to appear before April.

Braun’s cancellation came on the same day that an opinion piece under his name and those of other board members appeared in papers across the country. In the piece, Braun and the board members called on Parliament "to hold public hearings" into the state of affairs at the beleaguered organization "so that facts can replace fantasies."

Latulippe declined requests for an interview on Friday.