The veil: Consideration has to work both ways (From Lancashire Telegraph)

The veil: Consideration has to work both ways

11:26am Friday 3rd July 2009 in

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I have written on numerous occasions on the subject of veiled women in Blackburn. Back in April I challenged Anjum Anwar to do something positive for community cohesion by calling upon veiled members of ‘the community’ to meet their fellow citizens and shoppers face to face.

Now the problem has cropped up again, this time at St Mary's College where a Muslim woman demonstrated the usual inflexibility by refusing to fit in with the expectations of staff at a Christian school. If, for some reason, I visited a mosque I would not insult my hosts by insisting upon tramping through in boots on the grounds that it was my personal choice.

As usual, Salim Mulla was ready to point out that the college staff should be more understanding of the needs of the community. He gives the impression that there is no community in Blackburn with Darwen other than the Muslims and no consideration to the possibility that very many non-Muslims are offended by the numbers of veiled women on the streets, especially in the town centre.

It is time the Muslim community gave a lot more consideration to the feelings of the non-Muslim majority. Coun Brian Gordon, Meadowhead Ward