Jack Straw: resign now or be driven out at the election
05/10/2006
Former foreign secretary Jack Straw's disgraceful comments about women wearing the veil threaten to produce the deep ethnic divisions he pretends to oppose. Respect is deeply angered that so senior a Labour politician could come out with such crude, headline grabbing, Islamophobic prejudice.
"Who does Jack Straw think he is to tell his female constituents that he would prefer they disrobe before they meet him," says Respect MP George Galloway. "For that is what this amounts to. It is a male politician telling women to wear less. When put like that, there's no one who would be considered part of the civilised political spectrum who would have anything but contempt for Straw.
"Yet, because this is about Muslims, we are seriously being told this is about breaking down the "barriers to community cohesion". It is not women choosing to wear what they want that is sowing division in our society. It is poverty, racism and the despicable competition between the Tory and New Labour front benches over who can grab the headlines as the hammer of the Muslims.
"You only have to look at the three nights of violence directed against one Muslim family in Windsor to see where the real threat to a united and diverse community comes from."
"Straw should be forced to resign now. He has rested on the support of Muslim and other traditional Labour voters in Blackburn for far too long. They, and every right thinking person in the constituency, should together take a big step towards uniting the community through breaking with Straw and electing someone who will truly represent them."
John Rees, Respect National Secretary added, "Straw's disgusting comments will fuel racism and Islamophobia. Is he going to ask Sikhs to take off their turbans and Jews to take of their skull caps? Along the road from Straw's constituency in Preston there have been violent attacks against a mosque and those attending the mosque, including the stabbing of one young Asian man.
"This government has been fuelling Islamophobia with its wars on Afhghanistan and Iraq and its so-called 'war on terror'. Now Straw, who was Foreign Secretary when we went into Iraq based on Blair's big lie has made the situation even worse. He must resign now and let the people of his constituency choose someone who will stand up for them rather than attack them."
Veil Request Is 'Proper' Updated: 04:31, Friday October 06, 2006
Jack Straw's decision to ask Muslim women to remove their veils when they visit him in his Blackburn constituency is "perfectly proper" according to the Labour Party Chairman.
Hazel Blears was asked if she thought it was right to ask Muslim women to remove their veils.
Speaking on BBC's Question Time she said: "I do not think it would be the first thing that occurred to me but I think it's perfectly proper."
Ms Blears called for a debate involving Muslim women on the issue of Islamic dress.
"I do not think it's right for Government to lay down laws about what people should wear and what they shouldn't.
"What I would like to see is actually a discussion among women in the Muslim community about this.
"What I found when I dealt with the Muslim community when I was at the Home Office was sometimes women's voices did not get heard enough in some of the debates that went on." Straw speaks to Sky News Straw speaks to Sky News
In an exclusive interview with Sky News yesterday, Mr Straw said he makes the request because it is important for communication.
Mr Straw's views, first revealed in a local newspaper, have provoked an angry response from Muslim groups.
Mr Straw said he makes sure a female member of staff is with him during his surgeries and, after explaining his position, asks the woman to take off her veil.
He said he had thought about the issue for some time and he respected the right of Muslim women to wear a veil.
But he said: "There is an issue here and the issue is that of communication.
"The reason that you see people is so you can see them and communicate through what you see on their face as well as what you hear through your ears."
However, he said he respected the decision if a woman chose not to remove her veil.
Some Muslims have accused Mr Straw of discrimination.
The Lancashire Council of Mosques said he had "misunderstood" the issue and it was "deeply concerned" by his "very insensitive and unwise" statement.
What need does he have speaking to Muslim women in nikaab? If there really is an issue needed to be discussed with him and he feels the nikaab to be removed why can't he just let a female representative see to her alone without any male person present?
There is an importance to communicate i agree with that but YOU DON'T NEED TO REMOVE NIKAAB!
I wish that some muslim brother would speak up to the media for us! Someone needs to explain the situation.
When i peron who hardly wears any clothes meets him isn't that a barrier to communication? All that female fitna around him wom't that hinder his ability to communicate on the grounds that he won't be concentrating on what she has to say rather on what she looks like. So in actual fast women in nikaab are helpng him to only concentrate on what they have to say NOTHING MORE NOTHING LESS!
Added: Thursday, 5 October, 2006, 21:46 GMT 22:46 UK
Would Jack Straw say the same thing to a nun?
Si
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Added: Thursday, 5 October, 2006, 21:46 GMT 22:46 UK
Well said Mr. Straw. The first positive thing I ever heard from this government. "When in Rome" rings some bells. It just seems that everything now "upsets" he Islamic faith. If Muslims cannot accept our way of life and accept the basic fact that we are a Christian nation, they also have our freedom of choice. They are free to leave.
Hazel Thomas, Brecon
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Added: Thursday, 5 October, 2006, 21:46 GMT 22:46 UK
Let's be honest - ANY clothes designed to show that I know what God wants, and that you don't, are unlikely to help us get along are they?
These sort of clothes are big, visible statements that "I wouldn't want to be mistaken for someone like you" to everyone outside of the religion.
The underlying problem is religion - superstitious belief that only "my" group of fallible people know what the ultimate and majestic creator of the cosmos wants everyone to do. Er, not really likely is it?
Mike Poole, Kent, United Kingdom
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Added: Thursday, 5 October, 2006, 21:46 GMT 22:46 UK
I agree with Jack Straw. It's difficult to have a conversation with someone in a mask veilled or in sun glasses. We are accustomed to watching the facial expressions and body language while conversing with someone. Why can't muslim women show western cultures the same respect we are expected to show if we visit a muslim country like Saudi Arabia. If they chose to live here they should start to adopt the habits of the British.There are plenty of muslim countries they might be more comfortable in
sandy s, glasgow, United Kingdom
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Added: Thursday, 5 October, 2006, 21:46 GMT 22:46 UK
I find it quite ironic that Jack straw puts so much onus on reading peoples faces presumably he must have been looking the other way when the chairman of the joint intelligence committee reported that Saddam had weapons of mass destruction which could be unleashed in 45 minutes doing untold damage to all and sundry
bob walker, leeds, United Kingdom
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Added: Thursday, 5 October, 2006, 21:46 GMT 22:46 UK
I am Deaf and my partner is Deaf as well. We find muslim women wearing full veil madness because it would be impossible for Deaf people to lipread them or understand what they're talking about as we rely on lipreading.
If they don't like Jack Straw's comments then why they're living in UK? Saudi Arabia has strict laws forbiddening any women to show any length of their bodies, They should move to Saudi Arabia or any arab countries from UK if they insist wearing full veils.
Niall Burke, West London
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Added: Thursday, 5 October, 2006, 21:46 GMT 22:46 UK
People deal with other people without seeing their face constantly with modern communications and systems. With cash machines and now self-service tills more and more of our modern life involves less face to face contact. And one only has to look at politicians to see just one group of people who even though showing their faces have alienated a lot of the populations by their bare faced lies.
Phil J, London, United Kingdom
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Added: Thursday, 5 October, 2006, 21:45 GMT 22:45 UK
i do not believe the comments made by jack straw. he should of thought before he said something that would increase racial hatred between communities rather than reduce it. he was the one that wanted to go to war with iraq. this increased racial hatred and now hes trying to reduce it! go home jack straw!
Sean, Bolton
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Added: Thursday, 5 October, 2006, 21:45 GMT 22:45 UK
Westerners in Islamic countries have to abide by the local rules and that involves female reporters of the BBC wearing headscarves and even veils if necessary. These symbols are not necessary in the UK so it is reasonable to ask females to uncover their faces. One is not allowed to wear a motorcycle helmet in a bank so I think it is quite reasonable to ask a female to uncover her face in order to make a transaction in a bank or talk to an MP in his surgery if that is what he requests.
John Brice, Colchester, United Kingdom
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Added: Thursday, 5 October, 2006, 21:45 GMT 22:45 UK
I have lived in West Yorkshire for over 20 years and until the last 3 or 4 years I had never seen a muslim woman wearing a veil. Now it is fairly commonplace to see young British-born muslim girls (with local accents) wearing a full veil. I very much doubt if their mothers ever wore a veil or do so now.
I find it odd and a bit disturbing that many muslims have become polarised and more extreme in their religion.
In my view this is a backward step for good relations in this country.
Martin Lewis, Leeds
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Added: Thursday, 5 October, 2006, 21:45 GMT 22:45 UK
Much of a person's message comes through visible, facial gestures not only words. Muslim women have a choice. I would hope that many will choose to cover only their heads as their religion commands and thus help to promote better relations among us all. Muslim women can be proactive, take some steps to promote better understandings between cultures and faiths. Women have a chance to do something positive - Let's do it now.
Pat Koelle, Mississauga
has anyone heard about the french guy (riddik) who wrote about islam bringing about nothing but anger and violence from the beginning. ?? apparently, he received death threats and lots of threatning e-mail from our fellow muslims. he is on the run and has 24hr police protection. these threats were aimed at his family as well as him self.
to prove his point, he addressed france on a live interview on radio, and told them to take note of what is happening to him. - in simple words, the death threats to him and his family prove that islam brings violence.
insha'allah, if i get time, i will post the article. my husband read it on the internet. (islamonline.net , i think thats the address.)
Straw 'opposes all Muslim veils'
Cabinet Minister Jack Straw has said he would prefer Muslim women not to wear veils at all.
The Commons leader said he did not want to be "prescriptive" but he believed that covering people's faces could make community relations more difficult.
Mr Straw has said he asks Muslim women at his Blackburn constituency surgeries if they would mind removing veils.
Some Muslim women called his remarks insulting, but other Muslims said they understood his concerns.
Meeting strangers
Mr Straw is Labour MP for Blackburn, where about 30% of residents are Muslim.
He sparked controversy when he told his local paper he asked female constituents visiting his surgery if they would uncover their faces - something they had all so far agreed to do.
Asked on BBC Radio 4's Today programme if he would rather the veils be discarded completely, Mr Straw replied: "Yes. It needs to be made clear I am not talking about being prescriptive but with all the caveats, yes, I would rather."
Mr Straw explained the impact he thought veils could have in a society where watching facial expressions was important for contact between different people.
"Communities are bound together partly by informal chance relations between strangers - people being able to acknowledge each other in the street or being able pass the time of day," he said.
"That's made more difficult if people are wearing a veil. That's just a fact of life.
"I understand the concerns but I hope, however, there can be a mature debate about this.
"I come to this out of a profound commitment to equal rights for Muslim communities and an equal concern about adverse development about parallel communities."
'Separateness' fears
Mr Straw, seen as a potential candidate for Labour's deputy leadership, stressed it was a choice for women and he was making a request and not a demand.
HAVE YOUR SAY
The right to wear whatever you want is a part of the liberty we all enjoy
Simon W, King's Lynn, England
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Reaction to Straw remarks
"What I've been struck by when I've been talking to some of the ladies concerned is that they had not, I think, been fully aware of the potential in terms of community relations," he said.
"I mean, they'd thought of it just as a statement for themselves, in some cases they regard themselves as very religious - and I respect that - but as I say, I just wanted to put this issue on the table."
He said he was worried the "implications of separateness" and the development of "parallel communities".
Downing Street said Mr Straw was expressing a private opinion and Tony Blair thought it was reasonable to do so.
'Dangerous doctrine'
Mr Straw's comments have provoked a mixed response from Muslim groups.
The Islamic Human Rights Commission labelled the article "astonishing" and accused Mr Straw of discrimination.
The Protect-Hijab organisation said the "appalling" comments showed "a deep lack of understanding".
But Dr Daud Abdullah, of the Muslim Council of Britain, said he could understand Mr Straw's discomfort adding that women could choose to remove the veil.
Conservative policy director Oliver Letwin said it would be "dangerous doctrine" to tell people how to dress.
"If a person is making a statement about how they want to dress, I think it's pretty important we live in a country where you're allowed to do that," he said.
And Liberal Democrat president Simon Hughes accused Mr Straw of being insensitive.
"The experience of visiting their MP is difficult enough for many people without having to consider a dress code," said Mr Hughes.
Muslim Labour MP Shahid Malik applauded Mr Straw for being honest and said he was entitled to make his request as long as he respected the decision of people who refused the request.
Mr Malik said the remarks came on the trail of other media stories about Muslims and he appealed for calm.
"The problem is not necessarily what Jack is saying but the climate in which he's saying it," he said.
ofcourse its not 'proper' to wear that cloth on the face for muslim women.
rather, u should be partialy naked. that is the best way for communinication. dont worry, shaytaan does not play havoc with your mind, or HIS(straw).
lahawla wala quwata
dont ever let the above fool u!
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