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Muslim teacher defends her veil Muslim teacher defends her veil
(about 5 hours later)
A Muslim support teacher suspended for wearing a veil in class said it was never a problem for her pupils. A Muslim teaching assistant suspended for refusing to remove her veil in class said her pupils never complained.
Headfield Church of England Junior School, in Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, said pupils found it hard to understand her during English language lessons. Aishah Azmi, 23, also claimed she had been willing to take the veil off, but not in front of any male colleagues.
But Aishah Azmi, 23, said: "They never complained." She added she was willing to take the veil off in class, but not in front of any male colleagues. Headfield Church of England Junior School in Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, had said pupils found it hard to understand her during English language lessons.
London Mayor Ken Livingstone said he would like Muslims to give up the veil. Government minister Phil Woolas told the Sunday Mirror Ms Azmi should be sacked, accusing her of discrimination.
'Unacceptable' request "She has put herself in a position where she can't do her job," he told the newspaper.
But he suggested change was not something that could be imposed from outside the Muslim community. "She is denying the right of children to a full education by insisting that she wears the veil."
He said: "People have fought for centuries to establish freedom of religion and culture. Mr Woolas, a local government minister whose brief includes race relations, said her refusal to remove the veil in front of men amounted to sexual discrimination.
"It is the choice of each individual what they believe and what they wear." Acceptance plea
There are so many people in this country who wear the veil and who are very well educated. . .it is time that people accept us Aishah Azmi href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?threadID=4123&start=0&edition=1&ttl=20061010194311" class="">Send us your comments But Ms Azmi told the BBC: "It hasn't caused a problem between myself and the children. They've never complained and we had a brilliant relationship.
Ms Azmi was suspended pending the outcome of an employment tribunal, which is due to announce its decision within the next two weeks. "To say the students have a problem with communication, that's not right."
Kirklees Council said she was asked to take off her veil in class and refused, but the action was "nothing to do with religion", only a practical matter about making herself understood. There are so many people in this country who wear the veil and who are very well educated Aishah Azmi href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?threadID=4123&start=0&edition=1&ttl=20061010194311" class="">Send us your comments
But Ms Azmi told the BBC: "It hasn't caused a problem between myself and the children. They've never complained and we had a brilliant relationship."
She added: "To say the students have a problem with communication, that's not right."
Disputing the school's version of events, she insisted she had always been willing to take off her veil in front of the children but would not in front of male colleagues.Disputing the school's version of events, she insisted she had always been willing to take off her veil in front of the children but would not in front of male colleagues.
She said she had taught in class without the veil when there were no males present. "The veil is really important to all Muslim women who choose to wear it. Our religion compels us to wear it because it's in the Koran," she said.
The teaching assistant admitted she had not been wearing her veil when interviewed by a male member of school staff, but said she had not realised a man would be present.
She said: "The veil is really important to all Muslim women who choose to wear it. Our religion compels us to wear it because it's in the Koran.
"There are so many people in this country who wear the veil and who are very well educated. It is time that people accept us.""There are so many people in this country who wear the veil and who are very well educated. It is time that people accept us."
Ms Azmi insisted the veil was not a communication barrier. Ms Azmi, who has been suspended pending the outcome of an employment tribunal, insisted the veil was not a communication barrier.
Some Muslim women say the Koran instructs them to wear the veil "The children are aware of my body language, my eye expressions, the way I'm saying things.
She said: "The children are aware of my body language, my eye expressions, the way I'm saying things.
"If people think it is a problem, what about blind children? They can't see anything but they have a brilliant education, so I don't think my wearing the veil affects the children at all.""If people think it is a problem, what about blind children? They can't see anything but they have a brilliant education, so I don't think my wearing the veil affects the children at all."
Religious freedoms
Earlier, Kirklees Council said she was asked to take off her veil in class and refused.
The council said the school's action was "nothing to do with religion", only a practical matter about making herself understood.
Some Muslim women say the Koran instructs them to wear the veil
The school, which has 529 pupils aged seven to 11, takes many children from different ethnic backgrounds where English is not the first language.The school, which has 529 pupils aged seven to 11, takes many children from different ethnic backgrounds where English is not the first language.
The Leader of the Commons, Jack Straw, first raised the issue of veil wearing last week when he suggested the full veil over the face separated communities. The Leader of the Commons, Jack Straw, initiated a debate on veil-wearing last week when he suggested the full veil over the face separated communities.
A survey in the Guardian newspaper suggests 53% of people support Mr Straw in thinking the veils create a barrier between Muslims and other people. On Saturday, London Mayor Ken Livingstone weighed into the debate, saying he would like Muslims to give up the veil.
But he suggested change was not something that could be imposed from outside the Muslim community.
He said: "People have fought for centuries to establish freedom of religion and culture.
"It is the choice of each individual what they believe and what they wear."
A survey in the Guardian newspaper suggested 53% of people supported Mr Straw in thinking the veils create a barrier between Muslims and other people.
But three-quarters opposed a ban on veils being worn outside the home.But three-quarters opposed a ban on veils being worn outside the home.