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Straw defends Muslim veil stance Straw 'opposes all Muslim veils'
(about 1 hour later)
Jack Straw has defended his comments that he would prefer if Muslim women did not wear veils at his surgery. Cabinet Minister Jack Straw has said he would prefer Muslim women not to wear veils at all.
The Labour MP for Blackburn went even further on BBC Radio 4's Today programme saying he would rather the veil was not worn at all. The Commons leader said he did not want to be "prescriptive" but he believed that covering people's faces could make community relations more difficult.
The Conservatives criticised Mr Straw over his views, after he said wearing the veil could damage "better, positive relations" between communities . His comments come after it emerged Mr Straw asks Muslim women visiting his constituency surgeries if they would mind removing veils.
Downing Street said Mr Straw was expressing a private opinion. Some Muslim women have called his remarks insulting.
The prime minister said it was reasonable for people to express opinions. But other Muslims say they understand his concerns.
"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," Mr Straw told the Today programme. Meeting strangers
The ex-foreign secretary, whose constituency is about 30% Muslim, earlier told the Lancashire Evening Telegraph women wearing veils could increase "separateness". Mr Straw is Labour MP for Blackburn, where about 30% of residents are Muslim.
He sparked controversy when he told his local paper he asked female constituents visiting his surgery to uncover their faces - something they had all so far agreed to do.
Asked on BBC Radio 4's Today programme if he would rather the veils be discarded completely, Mr Straw replied: "Yes. It needs to be made clear I am not talking about being prescriptive but with all the caveats, yes, I would rather."
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 his local paper. Mr Straw explained the impact he thought veils could have in a society where watching facial expressions was important for contact between different people.
Being able to see mouths and noses would lead to true "face-to-face" conversations with his constituents. "Communities are bound together partly by informal chance relations between strangers - people being able to acknowledge each other in the street or being able pass the time of day," he said.
This, he wrote, would enable him to "see what the other person means, and not just hear what they say". "That's made more difficult if people are wearing a veil. That's just a fact of life.
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. "I understand the concerns but I hope, however, there can be a mature debate about this.
But Conservative policy director Oliver Letwin said it would be "dangerous doctrine" to tell people how to dress. "I come to this out of a profound commitment to equal rights for Muslim communities and an equal concern about adverse development about parallel communities."
He said he did not want to "slip gradually" into a situation where we did not allow differences because they create separations. 'Separateness' fears
"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. Mr Straw, seen as a potential candidate for Labour's deputy leadership, stressed it was a personal decision for women whether they wore veils.
"What I've been struck by when I've been talking to some of the ladies concerned is that they had not, I think, been fully aware of the potential in terms of community relations," he said.
"I mean, they'd thought of it just as a statement for themselves, in some cases they regard themselves as very religious - and I respect that - but as I say, I just wanted to put this issue on the table."
Would Jack Straw say the same thing to a nun? Si Send us your commentsWould 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. He added: "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."
Downing Street said Mr Straw was expressing a private opinion.
The prime minister said it was reasonable for people to express opinions.
'Dangerous doctrine'
Mr Straw's comments have provoked a mixed response from Muslim groups.
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.
But Conservative policy director Oliver Letwin said it would be "dangerous doctrine" to tell people how to dress.
He 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.