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| Orthodox Jewish women driving ban unacceptable, says Nicky Morgan | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A ban on women driving their children to school issued by a Jewish education institution is "unacceptable", Education Secretary Nicky Morgan says. | |
| Leaders of the ultra-Orthodox Belz sect in north London wrote to parents saying "no child will be allowed to learn in our school" if their mother drives. | Leaders of the ultra-Orthodox Belz sect in north London wrote to parents saying "no child will be allowed to learn in our school" if their mother drives. |
| Women driving "goes against the laws of modesty within our society", it said. | Women driving "goes against the laws of modesty within our society", it said. |
| The Home Office issued a response saying it was "developing a strategy to tackle extremism in all its forms". | The Home Office issued a response saying it was "developing a strategy to tackle extremism in all its forms". |
| The Belz, who originated in Ukraine in the early 19th Century, are an ultra-Orthodox sect who follow Haredi Judaism. | The Belz, who originated in Ukraine in the early 19th Century, are an ultra-Orthodox sect who follow Haredi Judaism. |
| 'Exasperation' | |
| The letter, which was signed from the "spiritual management" of Belz institutions, said: "There has been an increase in incidences of mothers of our students who have begun driving cars, something that goes against the laws of modesty within our society." | The letter, which was signed from the "spiritual management" of Belz institutions, said: "There has been an increase in incidences of mothers of our students who have begun driving cars, something that goes against the laws of modesty within our society." |
| This had led to "a lot of exasperation among other parents", it said. | This had led to "a lot of exasperation among other parents", it said. |
| The group's leader in Israel, Rabbi Yissachar Dov Rokeach, had advised that "if a woman is driving a car, she cannot send her children to be educated in Belz institutions", it said. | The group's leader in Israel, Rabbi Yissachar Dov Rokeach, had advised that "if a woman is driving a car, she cannot send her children to be educated in Belz institutions", it said. |
| It added that women with a "specific reason" to drive could submit a request to a special committee. | It added that women with a "specific reason" to drive could submit a request to a special committee. |
| Analysis by Clive Coleman, legal affairs correspondent | |
| This goes to the heart of what is a fantastically difficult problem now facing the government in drafting a counter-extremism bill that protects against extremism, but also safeguards religious freedom. | |
| Earlier this year, Home Secretary Theresa May defined extremism as "the vocal or active opposition to fundamental British values, including democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and the mutual respect and tolerance of different faiths and beliefs". | |
| It throws up the question, is a religious ban on women driving active opposition to the British value of individual liberty? And how do you square that with the other British value of mutual respect and tolerance for different faiths and beliefs? | |
| Be assured that there will be some very big legal brains at the Home Office grappling with this issue right now, trying to define extremism in a way that is workable and effective. | |
| But if such issues as religious driving bans are to be covered by the extremism bill, those responsible could be subject to a banning order which could ban an entire organisation, or a disruption order that aims to curtail the acts of an individual. | |
| These could be civil orders - like the Asbo-type orders that we're familiar with, which ban people from a particular activity - but breaching them is a criminal offence which can carry a significant custodial sentence. | |
| The Jewish Chronicle, which first reported the story, said that while many Hasidic women do not drive, this is thought to be the first formal declaration against the practice in the UK. | |
| It quoted the local Belzer women's organisation Neshei Belz as saying that they felt "driving a vehicle is a high-pressured activity where our values may be compromised by exposure to selfishness, road-rage, bad language and other inappropriate behaviour". | |
| They added: "We do, however, understand that there are many who conduct lifestyles that are different to ours, and we do not, in any way, disrespect them or the decisions they make." | |
| But Dina Brawer, UK Ambassador of the Jewish Orthodox Feminist Alliance, said the rule was "stupid and impractical" and could not work. | |
| "I found it most disturbing that it is basically saying children whose mothers are driving will not be allowed to continue their education," she said. | |
| Responding to the letter, Education Secretary and Minister for Women and Equalities, Nicky Morgan, said: "This is completely unacceptable in modern Britain. | Responding to the letter, Education Secretary and Minister for Women and Equalities, Nicky Morgan, said: "This is completely unacceptable in modern Britain. |
| "If schools do not actively promote the principle of respect for other people they are breaching the independent school standards. | "If schools do not actively promote the principle of respect for other people they are breaching the independent school standards. |
| "Where we are made aware of such breaches we will investigate and take any necessary action to address the situation." | "Where we are made aware of such breaches we will investigate and take any necessary action to address the situation." |
| A Home Office spokesman said it was "developing a strategy to tackle extremism in all its forms". The new counter-terrorism bill was announced as part of the Queen's Speech on Wednesday. | |
| They added that Home Secretary Theresa May had "made clear that she is not prepared to write off any British citizen as if they deserve fewer rights than the rest of us just because of where they're born, who their parents are or what religion they happen to have and neither should anyone else". | They added that Home Secretary Theresa May had "made clear that she is not prepared to write off any British citizen as if they deserve fewer rights than the rest of us just because of where they're born, who their parents are or what religion they happen to have and neither should anyone else". |
| 'Condemn bigotry' | |
| Addressing the Conservative Party conference last autumn, the Mrs May said the freedoms enjoyed by religious people in the UK had to be balanced by respect for others. | |
| "There will I know be some who say that what I describe as extremism, is merely social conservatism," she said. | |
| "But if others described a woman's intellect as deficient, denounced people on the basis of their religious beliefs, or rejected the democratic process, we would quite rightly condemn their bigotry." | |
| A spokesman for the Office of the Chief Rabbi in the UK said: "The Belz Chasidic dynasty has contributed significantly to the rich tapestry of our tradition but this particular view is entirely removed from mainstream Jewish practice." |