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| Prescott backs right to wear veil | Prescott backs right to wear veil |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott has defended the right of Muslim women to wear veils which cover their faces. | Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott has defended the right of Muslim women to wear veils which cover their faces. |
| It comes after House of Commons leader Jack Straw sparked a row by saying he asked Muslim women to take off their veils at his constituency surgery. | It comes after House of Commons leader Jack Straw sparked a row by saying he asked Muslim women to take off their veils at his constituency surgery. |
| Mr Prescott told the BBC he would not ask a woman to remove her veil, adding: "If a woman wants to wear a veil, why shouldn't she? It's her choice." | Mr Prescott told the BBC he would not ask a woman to remove her veil, adding: "If a woman wants to wear a veil, why shouldn't she? It's her choice." |
| But he said he welcomed the "proper debate" caused by Mr Straw's remarks. | But he said he welcomed the "proper debate" caused by Mr Straw's remarks. |
| Mr Straw said on Friday he did not want to be "prescriptive" but he believed that covering people's faces could make community relations more difficult. | Mr Straw said on Friday he did not want to be "prescriptive" but he believed that covering people's faces could make community relations more difficult. |
| Mr Prescott, who was interviewed on BBC One's Sunday AM programme, said there should never be "no go" areas for debate. | Mr Prescott, who was interviewed on BBC One's Sunday AM programme, said there should never be "no go" areas for debate. |
| I do fear when you say you emphasise separation there is a fear in the general public that somehow that shouldn't happen John Prescott,Deputy prime minister | I do fear when you say you emphasise separation there is a fear in the general public that somehow that shouldn't happen John Prescott,Deputy prime minister |
| He added that his colleague was better placed than anyone else in the Cabinet to discuss the issue due the large number of Muslims in his Blackburn constituency. | He added that his colleague was better placed than anyone else in the Cabinet to discuss the issue due the large number of Muslims in his Blackburn constituency. |
| The deputy prime minister said he understood the issue of "separateness" raised by the former foreign secretary. | The deputy prime minister said he understood the issue of "separateness" raised by the former foreign secretary. |
| But he said: "I do fear when you say you emphasise separation there is a fear in the general public that somehow that shouldn't happen." | But he said: "I do fear when you say you emphasise separation there is a fear in the general public that somehow that shouldn't happen." |
| Mr Prescott said veils were a "cultural difference", adding: "If somebody comes into my constituency wearing... a turban or very dark glasses I'm not going to ask them to remove it. | Mr Prescott said veils were a "cultural difference", adding: "If somebody comes into my constituency wearing... a turban or very dark glasses I'm not going to ask them to remove it. |
| "I think you can communicate with them." | "I think you can communicate with them." |
| 'Fear and resentment' | 'Fear and resentment' |
| Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt echoed these sentiments, saying that she also would not ask a Muslim women to remove her veil. | |
| The minister admitted that she had, in the past, regarded the veil as a symbol of women's oppression, but said she changed her mind some years ago after meeting a Muslim woman in her Leicester West constituency. | |
| "She'd made the decision - not her parents or anybody else - that she wanted as part of her statement of her faith, to wear the full veil. | |
| HAVE YOUR SAY If it were an orthodox Jew we'd be outraged if a politician told her how to dress Miss Sultana, London Send us your views | |
| "I would not ask her to take that off or to change a decision that she has made as an adult woman." | |
| Meanwhile, Communities and Local Government Minister Phil Woolas has backed Mr Straw, warning that the wearing of full veils could provoke "fear and resentment" and play into the hands of far-right activists. | |
| He said there was a need to "debate this issue" to break a "vicious circle" of misunderstanding between communities. | He said there was a need to "debate this issue" to break a "vicious circle" of misunderstanding between communities. |
| The minister said there was a need to "explain to people who are fearful of traditional Muslim dress the motives and the contexts of that and explain to the British Muslim people the effects that their actions can have if they are misunderstood". | The minister said there was a need to "explain to people who are fearful of traditional Muslim dress the motives and the contexts of that and explain to the British Muslim people the effects that their actions can have if they are misunderstood". |
| He said that riots in Oldham, Bradford and Burnley five years ago had taught him that there was a need to discuss faith and race issues. | He said that riots in Oldham, Bradford and Burnley five years ago had taught him that there was a need to discuss faith and race issues. |
| Some Muslim women called Mr Straw's original remarks insulting, but other Muslims have said they understood his concerns. | Some Muslim women called Mr Straw's original remarks insulting, but other Muslims have said they understood his concerns. |
| Find out about different styles of Muslim headscarfIn graphics | |
| Speaking on BBC One's Heaven and Earth show, Tahir Alam, of the Muslim Council of Britain, said Jack Straw "ought to be more responsible in making such comments". | Speaking on BBC One's Heaven and Earth show, Tahir Alam, of the Muslim Council of Britain, said Jack Straw "ought to be more responsible in making such comments". |
| He added that it "feeds into the hands of those who have been intolerant of Muslims". | He added that it "feeds into the hands of those who have been intolerant of Muslims". |
| Mr Alam also said that he had received a number of reports of women having their veils pulled off in the last few days. | Mr Alam also said that he had received a number of reports of women having their veils pulled off in the last few days. |
| Mr Straw has dismissed suggestions his remarks were designed to raise his profile ahead of Labour's deputy leadership election. | Mr Straw has dismissed suggestions his remarks were designed to raise his profile ahead of Labour's deputy leadership election. |
| Meanwhile, a leaked Church of England document suggests government attempts to integrate minority faiths has left society "more separated than ever before". | Meanwhile, a leaked Church of England document suggests government attempts to integrate minority faiths has left society "more separated than ever before". |
| The memo, written by an adviser to the Archbishop of Canterbury, says Muslims have received "preferential" treatment since the 7 July bombings last year, the Sunday Telegraph reports. | The memo, written by an adviser to the Archbishop of Canterbury, says Muslims have received "preferential" treatment since the 7 July bombings last year, the Sunday Telegraph reports. |
| Mr Woolas said he was aware of these concerns and similar points had been made by members of other faiths. He said he wanted to reassure people that all religions were of equal importance in British communities. | Mr Woolas said he was aware of these concerns and similar points had been made by members of other faiths. He said he wanted to reassure people that all religions were of equal importance in British communities. |
| He said: "All faith, and people of no faith of course, have their right to have their say." | He said: "All faith, and people of no faith of course, have their right to have their say." |