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Quebec’s only specialist in hereditary retinal diseases can’t practise in his own province because he failed an obligatory French test.

Amer Omar, a 37-year-old Egyptian born ophthalmologist and Canadian citizen for the past 15 years, has failed a dozen times to pass the written portion of the mandatory exam from the province’s official keeper of the French language, according to Quebec media.

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His temporary permit to practice, granted on condition that he pass the French test, expired on June 30.

Omar, co-author of several scientific papers, including, most recently, a study of the “novel insights into the molecular pathogenesis of CYP4V2-associated Bietti’s retinal dystrophy,” reportedly made too many syntax errors. And, when asked to write at least 200 words on a topic, his examiners said he wrote only 190, according to Le Devoir.

“I want to practise here. I love this country. I’m attached to Montreal,” Omar told the newspaper. “My wife is Quebecois and francophone … but I am not good enough according to the Office,” he said, in reference to the province’s language watchdog, the Office québécois de la langue française, or OQLF.