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Straw's veil stance under attack Straw defends Muslim veil stance
(about 1 hour later)
The Conservatives have criticised Commons leader Jack Straw for asking Muslim women attending his constituency surgery to remove their veils. Jack Straw has defended his comments that he would prefer it if Muslim women did not wear veils at his surgery.
Mr Straw, MP for Blackburn, referred to veils being a "visible statement of separation" in a newspaper article. The Conservatives criticised Mr Straw for his views, after he said wearing the veil damaged community relations.
Conservative policy director Oliver Letwin said it would be a "dangerous doctrine" to start telling people how to dress. The Commons leader expressed his views in a newspaper article.
The Labour MP for Blackburn went even further on BBC Radio 4's Today programme on Friday, saying he believed the veil should not be worn at all.
Conservative policy director Oliver Letwin said it would be "dangerous doctrine" to tell people how to dress.
Downing Street said Mr Straw was expressing a private opinion.Downing Street said Mr Straw was expressing a private opinion.
The former foreign secretary, whose constituency is about 30% Muslim, believes women wearing veils can increase "separateness". Mr Straw, whose constituency is about 30% Muslim, believes women wearing veils can increase "separateness".
Find out about different styles of Muslim headscarfIn graphicsFind out about different styles of Muslim headscarfIn graphics
"Wearing the full veil was bound to make better, positive relations between the two communities more difficult," Mr Straw wrote in the Lancashire Evening Telegraph."Wearing the full veil was bound to make better, positive relations between the two communities more difficult," Mr Straw wrote in the Lancashire Evening Telegraph.
Being able to see mouths and noses would lead to true "face-to-face" conversations with his constituents.Being able to see mouths and noses would lead to true "face-to-face" conversations with his constituents.
This, he wrote, would enable him to "see what the other person means, and not just hear what they say".This, he wrote, would enable him to "see what the other person means, and not just hear what they say".
He said he made sure he had a female colleague in the room when asking someone to show their mouth and nose - and his constituents had so far always agreed to do so.He said he made sure he had a female colleague in the room when asking someone to show their mouth and nose - and his constituents had so far always agreed to do so.
Mr Letwin said he did not want to "slip gradually" into a situation where we did not allow differences because they create separations.Mr Letwin said he did not want to "slip gradually" into a situation where we did not allow differences because they create separations.
"If a person is making a statement about how they want to dress, I think it's pretty important we live in a country where you're allowed to do that," he said."If a person is making a statement about how they want to dress, I think it's pretty important we live in a country where you're allowed to do that," he said.
Would Jack Straw say the same thing to a nun? Si Send us your comments
Mr Straw's comments provoked a mixed response from Muslim groups.Mr Straw's comments provoked a mixed response from Muslim groups.
Jack Straw said he had carefully considered his remarks Jack Straw's views
The Islamic Human Rights Commission labelled the article "astonishing" and accused Mr Straw of discrimination.The Islamic Human Rights Commission labelled the article "astonishing" and accused Mr Straw of discrimination.
The Protect-Hijab organisation said the "appalling" comments showed "a deep lack of understanding".The Protect-Hijab organisation said the "appalling" comments showed "a deep lack of understanding".
But Dr Daud Abdullah of the Muslim Council of Britain said he could understand Mr Straw's discomfort adding that women could choose to remove the veil.But Dr Daud Abdullah of the Muslim Council of Britain said he could understand Mr Straw's discomfort adding that women could choose to remove the veil.
Mr Straw was home secretary from 1997 to 2001, and then foreign secretary until 2005 - a period which included the invasion of Iraq.Mr Straw was home secretary from 1997 to 2001, and then foreign secretary until 2005 - a period which included the invasion of Iraq.