This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/bradford/6179842.stm
The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 3 | Version 4 |
---|---|
School sacks woman after veil row | School sacks woman after veil row |
(10 minutes later) | |
A Muslim classroom assistant suspended by a school for wearing a veil in lessons has been sacked. | A Muslim classroom assistant suspended by a school for wearing a veil in lessons has been sacked. |
Aishah Azmi, 23, was asked to remove the veil after the Church of England school in Dewsbury, West Yorks, said pupils found it hard to understand her. | Aishah Azmi, 23, was asked to remove the veil after the Church of England school in Dewsbury, West Yorks, said pupils found it hard to understand her. |
Last month, an employment tribunal ruled Mrs Azmi had not been discriminated against, but awarded her £1,100 for "injury to feelings". | Last month, an employment tribunal ruled Mrs Azmi had not been discriminated against, but awarded her £1,100 for "injury to feelings". |
Kirklees Council confirmed the teaching assistant had been dismissed. | Kirklees Council confirmed the teaching assistant had been dismissed. |
A spokesman said a staffing dismissals committee of the school's governing body had held a disciplinary hearing into "the circumstances that resulted in the suspension of a bilingual support worker at the school". | A spokesman said a staffing dismissals committee of the school's governing body had held a disciplinary hearing into "the circumstances that resulted in the suspension of a bilingual support worker at the school". |
Test case | Test case |
"As result of the hearing the committee decided to terminate the employment of the employee concerned," he said. | "As result of the hearing the committee decided to terminate the employment of the employee concerned," he said. |
Mrs Azmi's lawyer Nick Whittingham, of the Kirklees Law Centre, said the local education authority was involved in a disciplinary process against her, but he was not aware any decision had been reached. | Mrs Azmi's lawyer Nick Whittingham, of the Kirklees Law Centre, said the local education authority was involved in a disciplinary process against her, but he was not aware any decision had been reached. |
Mrs Azmi was unavailable for comment. | |
Tony Blair said wearing full face veils was a "mark of separation" | Tony Blair said wearing full face veils was a "mark of separation" |
In October, a tribunal dismissed her claims of religious discrimination and harassment on religious grounds. | |
Mrs Azmi had said she was willing to remove her veil in front of children, but not if male colleagues were present. | |
The dispute was brought as a test case under new religious discrimination regulations, the Employment Equality (Religion or Belief) Regulations 2004. | |
At the time the married mother-of-one said she would appeal against the decision to dismiss her religious discrimination claims. | At the time the married mother-of-one said she would appeal against the decision to dismiss her religious discrimination claims. |
And she criticised government ministers who had intervened in the case, saying it made her "fearful of the consequences for Muslim women in this country who want to work". | And she criticised government ministers who had intervened in the case, saying it made her "fearful of the consequences for Muslim women in this country who want to work". |
The tribunal report also said it was "most unfortunate" that politicians had made comments on the case which were sub-judice. | The tribunal report also said it was "most unfortunate" that politicians had made comments on the case which were sub-judice. |
Mrs Azmi's case became a central part of a national debate on multiculturism in Britain. | Mrs Azmi's case became a central part of a national debate on multiculturism in Britain. |
Prime Minister Tony Blair said the veil row was part of a necessary debate about the way the Muslim community integrated into British society. | Prime Minister Tony Blair said the veil row was part of a necessary debate about the way the Muslim community integrated into British society. |
The veil was a "mark of separation" which made people of other ethnic backgrounds feel uncomfortable, he added. | The veil was a "mark of separation" which made people of other ethnic backgrounds feel uncomfortable, he added. |
His comments came after Leader of the House of Commons Jack Straw, said wearing the full veil - or niqab - made community relations more difficult. | His comments came after Leader of the House of Commons Jack Straw, said wearing the full veil - or niqab - made community relations more difficult. |