Free Republic

One in three people would support a ban on Muslim women wearing veils which cover their faces in public places, according to a new survey. The ICM survey, carried out for the BBC, asked if people would approve the introduction by the Government of such a plan. Thirty-three per cent of respondents said they would approve the introduction of such a ban, while 56 per cent said they would not and just under one in 10 said they did not know. Asked if they would support prohibition in specific circumstances, 61 per cent said they would approve a ban in...

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...

A legal adviser who refused an immigration tribunal judge's request to remove a full face veil has been pulled off the case which sparked the controversy. Shabnam Mughal was taken off today's rescheduled appeal hearing and replaced by a senior partner at the Coventry-based law firm she works for. Speaking outside the hearing centre in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, solicitor Abdul Khan from The Law Partnership said the decision had been made in the best interest of the client and was not a reflection on Ms Mughal nor issues surrounding her use of a veil. He told reporters: "It is not an...

The Archbishop of Canterbury has said that promoting a society where no religious symbols are visible in public is "politically dangerous" and warned against a march towards secularism in Britain. Rowan Williams said he was making his views known in an effort to bring perspective to the ongoing debate on the wearing of Islamic veils, Christian crosses and other visible expressions of religious belief. "The ideal of a society where no visible public signs of religion would be seen - no crosses around necks, no sidelocks, turbans or veils - is a politically dangerous one. "It assumes that what comes...

David Cameron has joined the debate over Muslim women who wear a veil, warning that the number of politicians 'piling in' to the debate could cause the Muslim community to feel 'targeted'. He also backed the decision to uphold the suspension of Aishah Azmi, who refused to remove her veil in class. Mr Cameron said it should be up to the school and local authority to make their own judgment. "I am not sure we can have some national veils policy," he said in an ITV interview, last night. "Looking at the case, I have great sympathy with the school...

A Muslim teaching assistant suspended for wearing a full-face veil has been urged by her MP to give up her fight. Aishah Azmi lost her employment tribunal case for discrimination and harassment, but was awarded damages for victimisation by Kirklees Council. Her legal representative said they will take the case to "a higher court". But Dewsbury Labour MP Shahid Malik told the BBC: "I would appeal to Mrs Azmi now just to let this thing go. There is no real support for it." It comes as Conservative leader David Cameron warned politicians to consider the effects before "piling" into the...