FAITH leaders have organised protests to demand Jack Straw publicly apologises for his comments last week.

The Blackburn Mosques Forum and Muslim Council of Blackburn have organised a demonstration, to coincide with Mr Straw's advice surgery at Bangor Street Community Centre, at 9am on Saturday.

Organisers are being encouraged to arrive by the centre from 8am so they can demand a public apology when the MP arrives.

Women should attend at the Calder Street entrance and men the Norwich Street entrance.

Protests will also take place at Mill Hill Community Centre and Little Harwood Community Centre at 3pm and 5pm on Friday. Hanif Dudhwala, of Troy Street Mosque, Blackburn is one of those organising the Saturday protest.

He said: "We feel Mr Straw has no right to ask any Muslim woman to lift her veil.

"She is following her religious teaching and Mr Straw should respect that."