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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Straw 'opposes all Muslim veils' | Straw 'opposes all Muslim veils' |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Cabinet Minister Jack Straw has said he would prefer Muslim women not to wear veils at all. | Cabinet Minister Jack Straw has said he would prefer Muslim women not to wear veils 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 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. |
| Meeting strangers | Meeting strangers |
| Mr Straw is Labour MP for Blackburn, where about 30% of residents are Muslim. | 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. | 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." | 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 graphics | Find out about different styles of Muslim headscarfIn graphics |
| 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. |
| "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, seen as a potential candidate for Labour's deputy leadership, stressed it was a choice for women and he was making a request and not a demand. | |
| HAVE YOUR SAY The right to wear whatever you want is a part of the liberty we all enjoy Simon W, King's Lynn, England Send us your comments | HAVE YOUR SAY The right to wear whatever you want is a part of the liberty we all enjoy Simon W, King's Lynn, England Send us your comments |
| "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. |
| "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 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." | 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. | Downing Street said Mr Straw was expressing a private opinion. |
| The prime minister said it was reasonable for people to express opinions. | The prime minister said it was reasonable for people to express opinions. |
| '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 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. | 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. | 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. | "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. |