24/11/2006
Muslim veil row woman sacked
A Muslim teaching assistant who was suspended from her job for failing to remove her veil in class has been sacked.
Aishah Azmi had been suspended on full pay earlier by Headfield Church of England Junior School in Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, after she was asked to remove her veil while in the classroom.
Mrs Azmi said that she was willing to remove her veil in front of children, but said that she would not remove it if male colleagues were present.
Last month, she lost her case for discrimination at a tribunal, but she was awarded £1,000 for "injury to feelings".
Kirlees Council confirmed that Mrs Azmi had been dismissed.
The case sparked a national debate on multiculturalism. Prime Minister Tony Blair said that the veil row was part of a necessary debate about the way the Muslim community integrated into British society.
He said that the veil was a "mark of separation", which made people from other ethnic backgrounds uncomfortable.
(KMcA)
Aishah Azmi had been suspended on full pay earlier by Headfield Church of England Junior School in Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, after she was asked to remove her veil while in the classroom.
Mrs Azmi said that she was willing to remove her veil in front of children, but said that she would not remove it if male colleagues were present.
Last month, she lost her case for discrimination at a tribunal, but she was awarded £1,000 for "injury to feelings".
Kirlees Council confirmed that Mrs Azmi had been dismissed.
The case sparked a national debate on multiculturalism. Prime Minister Tony Blair said that the veil row was part of a necessary debate about the way the Muslim community integrated into British society.
He said that the veil was a "mark of separation", which made people from other ethnic backgrounds uncomfortable.
(KMcA)
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