Straw veil call sparks Muslim fury (Jack Straw grows a spine?)

CNN.com ^ | 10/6/2006 | Staff

[Dark Skies]

A senior British Cabinet minister has sparked fury by saying that Muslim women who wore full veils made community relations more difficult.

Jack Straw wrote in a newspaper that a veil was "a visible statement of separation and difference" and that he was more comfortable dealing with female visitors to his local political office with their faces uncovered.

But Muslim leaders in Straw's Blackburn constituency in northwest England said many Muslim women would find his comments "offensive and disturbing."

Straw, leader of the House of Commons and the former foreign secretary, said he was concerned that "wearing the full veil was bound to make better, positive relations between the two communities more difficult."

Asked on Friday if he would like veils to be discarded altogether, Straw said: "Yes. It needs to be made clear I am not talking about being prescriptive but with all the caveats, yes, I would rather."

"You cannot force people where they live, that's a matter of choice and economics, but you can be concerned about the implications of separateness and I am," he told the BBC.

[vimto]

He is clearly talking about parallel Britain.

I thought he was weak.

...but I must revise my opinion. His constituency is heavily Muslim weighted. He has a lot to loose. It says a lot that the Muslim leaders are shrieking from a mild mannered man's rather mild comments.

What has brought this about? He apologized for the Danish Cartoons!

Go jack GO!

[From One - Many]

what's next....will politicians call for the mooselimbs to stop blowing up others?.....well..... it is about time to make a stand....or take a stand.....glad to see Straw didn't side with the mooselimbs (terrorists) side. BTW a burka (sp) can hide a large amount of weaponry.

[Mr. Jeeves]

It says a lot that the Muslim leaders are shrieking from a mild mannered man's rather mild comments.

I guess they are afraid that their women, if unveiled, will start getting "uppity". ;)

[Dark Skies]

IIRC, Straw has around 25,000 vocal muslims in his Blackburn constituency.

This statement of his about veils is quite a positive surprise.

[OpusatFR]

" many Muslim women would find his comments "offensive and disturbing."

I'm pretty sick and tired of Muslims being offended and disturbed and hysterical at all times.

This has to be the most hysterical bunch of people in the world.

[From One - Many]

ah but we must remember....the moose are a peaceful bunch../s

[GraceofGod]

It's a sign of disrespect to come in to meet with an official all covered up like that. He must expect them to say "trick or treat" when they enter, or possibly even blow themselves up. It's just plain creepy and distracting. They may as well be wearing a tee shirt that says "I choose to hold up a wall of resentment against you", and "p.s. there's nothing you can do because it's my RELIIIIIIIIIIIIIIGION." Oh, and "P.S.S. I stand AGAINST your government, and want to DESTROY IT." How can any real interaction take place with that in your face. It's not the dress, it's the message behind it, and he's RIGHT.