STRAW & THE HEAD TO TOE BAGS

Straw sparks row over Muslim veil comments

LONDON (AFP) - Former British foreign secretary Jack Straw triggered a row by revealing that he asks Muslim women to remove veils from their faces when they visit his constituency office to seek his help.

Straw, whose Blackburn, northwest England constituency has a 22-percent ethnic minority population, said he had expected his request would cause problems, but has found that most women are "relieved" to comply.

"I defend absolutely the right of any women to wear a headscarf," Straw said in comments that appeared in his regular local newspaper column in the Lancashire Evening Telegraph.

"As for the full veil, wearing it breaks no laws.

"I go on to say that I think, however, that the conversation would be of greater value if the lady took the covering from her face.

"Indeed, the value of a meeting, as opposed to a letter or phone call, is so that you can -- almost literally -- see what the other person means, and not just hear what they say."

He said he now makes sure he has a female member of staff with him during meetings in his office.

"I can't recall a single occasion when the lady concerned had refused to lift her veil; and most I ask seem relieved to have done so."

However, Muslim community leaders were angered by the remarks.

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Apologies will be forthcoming in one, two, three...

Pertinent Links:

1) Straw sparks row over Muslim veil comments