Posted on 11/24/2006 2:56:43 AM PST by Mrs Ivan
A Muslim teaching assistant who was suspended for refusing to remove her veil in the classroom has been sacked, sources said.
Aishah Azmi, 24, of Thornhill Lees, Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, was suspended on full pay earlier this year by Kirklees Council.
Last month, an employment tribunal dismissed three of Mrs Azmi's claims of discrimination and harassment but found that she was victimised by Headfield Church of England Junior School in Dewsbury and awarded her £1,000 for "injury to feelings".
A Kirklees Council spokesman said he could not comment on Mrs Azmi's employment status due to confidentiality rules.
Mrs Azmi's lawyer Nick Whittingham, of the Kirklees Law Centre, said the local education authority were involved in a disciplinary process against her but he was not aware that any decision had been reached.
Parallels have been drawn between Ms Azmi's case and that of British Airways check-in worker Nadia Eweida, who claims she was effectively "forced" to take unpaid leave after refusing to remove or conceal a small crucifix necklace.
More follows...
I don't see any parallels between a very descreet piece of jewellery that hardly anyone would notice and an all encompassing face garment that is literally in yer face!!
Am I missing something???
Updated:
A Muslim teaching assistant who was suspended for refusing to remove her veil in the classroom has been sacked.
Aishah Azmi, 24, of Thornhill Lees, Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, was suspended on full pay earlier this year by Kirklees Council and has now been sacked, sources said.
Last month, an employment tribunal dismissed three of Mrs Azmi's claims of discrimination and harassment but found that she was victimised by Headfield Church of England Junior School in Dewsbury and awarded her £1,000 for "injury to feelings".
A Kirklees Council spokesman said he could not comment on Mrs Azmi's employment status due to confidentiality rules.
Mrs Azmi's lawyer Nick Whittingham, of the Kirklees Law Centre, said the local education authority were involved in a disciplinary process against her but he was not aware that any decision had been reached.
Mrs Azmi said she was willing to remove her veil in front of children - but not when male colleagues were present. Her case sparked a national debate on multiculturalism in Britain.
Prime Minister Tony Blair said the veil row was part of a necessary debate about the way the Muslim community integrates into British society and said the veil was a "mark of separation" which makes people of other ethnic backgrounds feel uncomfortable.
The intervention by a series of politicians, which culminated in Mr Blair's remarks, were criticised both by the tribunal and Muslim community leaders.
The tribunal report said it was "most unfortunate" that politicians had made comments on the case which were sub judice. The debate was sparked by the Leader of the House of Commons, Jack Straw, when he said that the wearing of full veils - or niqab - made community relations more difficult.
Mrs Azmi's claim was brought as a test case under the new religious discrimination regulations, the Employment Equality (Religion or Belief) Regulations 2004.
1. for refusing to remove her veil in the classroom has been sacked
2. claims she was effectively "forced" to take unpaid leave after refusing to remove or conceal a small crucifix necklace.
I see no parallels here: Of course I'm not a brain dead liberal either
No. I haven't noticed the two cases being compared all that much to be honest.
Yes. You are missing the addition into the equation of moral relativism. Wearing a small piece of jewelry and wearing a face covering are now seen to be the same by the "authorities".
Who are these "authorities"? Turn on CNN; you can see them pontificate 24/7.
Oh yes, how silly of me I should have known better, the brave new world of inverted equality and putting minority groups in the driving seat cos it's the right thing to do!!
All makes sense now!!.......sarc
Just the goal to rid public space of any and all religious symbolism.
Muslim women fight to be able to cover their faces in public, because they live in shame. Muslim men are ashamed of their women and make them cover their faces. Muslim men cover their own faces when they are bragging on camera about the murders they have just committed. Muslims wallow in shame.
was suspended on full pay earlier this year by Kirklees Council.
How can I get that deal....sarc.
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