Minister calls for sacking
Updated on 15 October 2006
Minister demands sacking of Muslim teacher who refuses to remove veil.
Watch the report
The simmering row over religious relations in Britain escalated further today after the government's race minister demanded the sacking of a Muslim teaching assistant who refuses to remove her veil at work.
Phil Woolas said Aishah Azmi was "denying the right of children to a full education". He added that her stand meant she could not "do her job" and insisted barring men from working with her would amount to "sexual discrimination".
Meanwhile, Shadow Home Secretary David Davis stoked the row further with a stinging attack on Muslim leaders for risking "voluntary apartheid" in Britain, and expecting special protection from criticism.
In an article for the Sunday Telegraph, Mr Davis warned of "closed societies" being created in the UK, and said religious divides threatened to "corrode" fundamental values such as freedom of speech.
The outspoken comments came at the end of a week in which the furore over race relations has grown steadily since Jack Straw admitted he asked female Muslim constituents to lift their veils during private discussions.
Related links:
Religion
