Minister walks out of Muslim wedding
Updated on 14 August 2009
Government minister Jim Fitzpatrick launches an attack on the Muslim tradition of segregating men and women at weddings.
Farming minister Jim Fitzpatrick walked out of a constituent's marriage ceremony in East London at the weekend saying it was "strange" he wasn't allowed to sit with his wife.
He has expressed concern that gender separation rules could damage community cohesion.
Mr Fitzpatrick told Channel 4 News at Noon: "What I think is wrong is that the IFE (Islamic Forum of Europe) should be allowed to continue to strengthen their hold over the politics, the social and cultural life of East London.
"If people want to have segregated weddings that's absolutely fine, and if that's clear on an invitation card then I will have the opportunity to say 'No'.
"This is only the second time this has happened in the fifteen years that I have been going to Muslim weddings in the East End.
"This was a most unusual experience and in that instance I didn't expect to be segregated.
"My wife and I went to Bangladesh to volunteer together last summer. We go everywhere together. She supports me in my political work. The local community know that.
It was a surprise to many of them that we were being told we couldn't sit together as usual and I've had a number of calls of support, a number of calls of disappointment and even anger from my Bangladeshi constituents when they've heard what's happened."
However, a spokesman for the London Muslim Centre where the ceremony was held says the decision to separate males and females was down to the family.
