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/uk_politics/6058672.stm
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Blair's concerns over face veils | Blair's concerns over face veils |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Tony Blair has said the wearing of full face veils by Muslim women is a "mark of separation" and made some "outside the community feel uncomfortable". | Tony Blair has said the wearing of full face veils by Muslim women is a "mark of separation" and made some "outside the community feel uncomfortable". |
| The prime minister also backed Kirklees Council, which suspended classroom assistant Aishah Azmi for refusing to remove her full face veil at school. | The prime minister also backed Kirklees Council, which suspended classroom assistant Aishah Azmi for refusing to remove her full face veil at school. |
| But his intervention was criticised by Ms Azmi's lawyer, as the employment tribunal has yet to give a verdict. | But his intervention was criticised by Ms Azmi's lawyer, as the employment tribunal has yet to give a verdict. |
| He has threatened proceedings against Mr Blair if there is no retraction. | He has threatened proceedings against Mr Blair if there is no retraction. |
| In his monthly press conference, Mr Blair said there was a need for a wider debate about community integration while allowing people to develop their "distinctive identity". | In his monthly press conference, Mr Blair said there was a need for a wider debate about community integration while allowing people to develop their "distinctive identity". |
| It is a mark of separation and that is why it makes other people from outside the community feel uncomfortable Tony Blair on full face veils href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?threadID=4272&start=0&edition=1&ttl=20061015095542" class="">Send us your comments | |
| Mr Blair told reporters at his first news conference since MPs returned from their long summer break that a debate was needed on how the Muslim community integrates with British society. | Mr Blair told reporters at his first news conference since MPs returned from their long summer break that a debate was needed on how the Muslim community integrates with British society. |
| "Difficult though these issues are, I think they have to be raised and confronted and dealt with," he said. | "Difficult though these issues are, I think they have to be raised and confronted and dealt with," he said. |
| "And then, there's a second issue, which is about Islam itself and how Islam comes to terms with - and is comfortable with - the modern world." | "And then, there's a second issue, which is about Islam itself and how Islam comes to terms with - and is comfortable with - the modern world." |
| Community balance | Community balance |
| The debate was already going on in "every village, town and city" in the UK, as people sought a balance between "preserving a distinctive identity and integration." | The debate was already going on in "every village, town and city" in the UK, as people sought a balance between "preserving a distinctive identity and integration." |
| When asked at the news conference if a Muslim woman wearing a veil could make a contribution to society, he replied: "That's a very difficult question. | When asked at the news conference if a Muslim woman wearing a veil could make a contribution to society, he replied: "That's a very difficult question. |
| "It is a mark of separation and that is why it makes other people from outside the community feel uncomfortable. | "It is a mark of separation and that is why it makes other people from outside the community feel uncomfortable. |
| "No-one wants to say that people don't have the right to do it. That is to take it too far. But I think we need to confront this issue about how we integrate people properly into our society." | "No-one wants to say that people don't have the right to do it. That is to take it too far. But I think we need to confront this issue about how we integrate people properly into our society." |
| Mr Blair made his comments during his monthly press conference | Mr Blair made his comments during his monthly press conference |
| He also said he "fully supported" the way the authority dealt with Aishah Azmi at Headfield Church of England Junior School, in Dewsbury, by suspending her. | He also said he "fully supported" the way the authority dealt with Aishah Azmi at Headfield Church of England Junior School, in Dewsbury, by suspending her. |
| But her lawyer, Mr Whittingham, said his comments had "specifically and directly" interfered with the employment tribunal - which had yet to make a decision, which would inevitably be appealed against by the losing side. | But her lawyer, Mr Whittingham, said his comments had "specifically and directly" interfered with the employment tribunal - which had yet to make a decision, which would inevitably be appealed against by the losing side. |
| He said Mr Blair's interference was a breach of the ministerial code, which requires ministers to uphold the administration of justice. | He said Mr Blair's interference was a breach of the ministerial code, which requires ministers to uphold the administration of justice. |
| "We require the Prime Minister immediately to issue a qualification or a retraction," he wrote. | "We require the Prime Minister immediately to issue a qualification or a retraction," he wrote. |
| "If comments are not qualified or withdrawn then Mrs Azmi will consider bringing a complaint under the ministerial code and bringing injunction proceedings against the prime minister". | "If comments are not qualified or withdrawn then Mrs Azmi will consider bringing a complaint under the ministerial code and bringing injunction proceedings against the prime minister". |
| Full face veils became a matter of political debate two weeks ago when Jack Straw said he asked women to remove them, when they visited his office. | Full face veils became a matter of political debate two weeks ago when Jack Straw said he asked women to remove them, when they visited his office. |
| Government minister Phil Woolas has also angered some Muslim groups by calling for 23-year-old Ms Azmi to be sacked. | Government minister Phil Woolas has also angered some Muslim groups by calling for 23-year-old Ms Azmi to be sacked. |
| But her MP, Labour's Shahid Malik said ministers had been right to give their views and it had resulted in helpful debate. | But her MP, Labour's Shahid Malik said ministers had been right to give their views and it had resulted in helpful debate. |