Veil debate goes national in wake of Birmingham College ruling

The Muslim Council of Britain has today expressed its concern over current debates about the wearing of the Niqab, the Muslim veil which covers the entire face.

It follows Birmingham Metropolitan College's decision to reverse a ban on the wearing of this veil, and today's decision by a judge in London to require a defendant to remove her Niqab.

Mrs. Talat Ahmed, Chair of the Muslim Council of Britain’s Social and Family Affairs Committee said:

“The recent events will once again generate controversy when in fact what we really need is sensible, non-hysterical conversation....There are few people who wear the niqab, and they should be allowed to wear this veil if they freely decide to do so.......

"...Nevertheless, this is a personal choice. In Britain, we cherish our right to freedom of religion. I would like to remind those who call for a ban to heed the warning of minister Damian Green who said that introducing such a ban would be ‘un-British’."