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| 'Remove full veils' urges Straw | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Cabinet Minister Jack Straw has said he would prefer Muslim women not to wear veils which cover the face. | Cabinet Minister Jack Straw has said he would prefer Muslim women not to wear veils which cover the face. |
| 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 Commons leader said he did not want to be "prescriptive" but he believed that covering people's faces could make community relations more difficult. |
| Mr Straw has said he asks Muslim women at his Blackburn constituency surgeries if they would mind removing veils. | Mr Straw has said he asks Muslim women at his Blackburn constituency surgeries if they would mind removing veils. |
| Some Muslim women called his remarks insulting, but other Muslims said they understood his concerns. | Some Muslim women called his remarks insulting, but other Muslims said they understood his concerns. |
| Mr Straw has dismissed suggestions that his remarks are designed to raise his profile ahead of Labour's deputy leadership election. | Mr Straw has dismissed suggestions that his remarks are designed to raise his profile ahead of Labour's deputy leadership election. |
| He has yet to confirm whether he will join the race to succeed John Prescott but is widely expected to do so. | He has yet to confirm whether he will join the race to succeed John Prescott but is widely expected to do so. |
| Meeting strangers | Meeting strangers |
| Mr Straw is Labour MP for Blackburn, where between 25% and 30% of residents are Muslim. | Mr Straw is Labour MP for Blackburn, where between 25% and 30% of residents are Muslim. |
| He sparked controversy when he told his local paper he asked female constituents visiting his surgery if they would uncover their faces. | He sparked controversy when he told his local paper he asked female constituents visiting his surgery if they would uncover their faces. |
| Find out about different styles of Muslim veils and headscarvesIn graphics | |
| 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. |
| 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." | 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." |
| Mr Straw explained the impact he thought veils could have in a society where watching facial expressions was important for contact between different people. | Mr Straw explained the impact he thought veils could have in a society where watching facial expressions was important for contact between different people. |
| "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. | "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. |
| BBC NEWS: VIDEO AND AUDIO Listen to the Asian Network debate | |
| "That's made more difficult if people are wearing a veil. That's just a fact of life. | "That's made more difficult if people are wearing a veil. That's just a fact of life. |
| "I understand the concerns but I hope, however, there can be a mature debate about this. | "I understand the concerns but I hope, however, there can be a mature debate about this. |
| "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." | "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." |
| 'Separateness' fears | 'Separateness' fears |
| Mr Straw stressed it was a choice for women and he was making a request and not a demand. | Mr Straw stressed it was a choice for women and he was making a request and not a demand. |
| "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. | "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. |
| HAVE YOUR SAY Of course Jack Straw has a valid point... Communication isn't just verbal it is also to do with body language and facial expression Dave, Reading Send us your comments Why women wear veils | |
| "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." | "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." |
| He said he was worried the "implications of separateness" and the development of "parallel communities". | He said he was worried the "implications of separateness" and the development of "parallel communities". |
| Tony Blair's official spokesman said the prime minister "believes that it is right that people should be able to have a discussion and express their personal views on issues such as this". | Tony Blair's official spokesman said the prime minister "believes that it is right that people should be able to have a discussion and express their personal views on issues such as this". |
| The spokesman said Mr Straw's comments were not government policy and he refused to reveal Mr Blair's views on the issue. | The spokesman said Mr Straw's comments were not government policy and he refused to reveal Mr Blair's views on the issue. |
| 'Dangerous doctrine' | 'Dangerous doctrine' |
| Mr Straw's comments have provoked a mixed response from Muslim groups. | Mr Straw's comments have provoked a mixed response from Muslim groups. |
| The experience of visiting their MP is difficult enough for many people without having to consider a dress code Simon Hughes, Liberal Democrat president Reaction to Straw remarks | The experience of visiting their MP is difficult enough for many people without having to consider a dress code Simon Hughes, Liberal Democrat president Reaction to Straw remarks |
| The Islamic Human Rights Commission called Mr Straw's views "astonishing" and accused him of discrimination. | The Islamic Human Rights Commission called Mr Straw's views "astonishing" and accused him 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. |
| Labour's Baroness Uddin said debate was needed but perhaps not in the way Mr Straw had framed it. | Labour's Baroness Uddin said debate was needed but perhaps not in the way Mr Straw had framed it. |
| She was worried he had talked about veils being a statement of separation - that acknowledged the government's failure to ensure Muslim women were "part and parcel" of British society, she argued. | She was worried he had talked about veils being a statement of separation - that acknowledged the government's failure to ensure Muslim women were "part and parcel" of British society, she argued. |
| Conservative policy director Oliver Letwin said it would be "dangerous doctrine" to tell people how to dress. | Conservative policy director Oliver Letwin said it would be "dangerous doctrine" to tell people how to dress. |
| And Liberal Democrat president Simon Hughes: "The experience of visiting their MP is difficult enough for many people without having to consider a dress code." | And Liberal Democrat president Simon Hughes: "The experience of visiting their MP is difficult enough for many people without having to consider a dress code." |