British teacher fired for wearing a veil in class

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

A Muslim teacher has been axed after she insisted on wearing a veil to teach young children.

Aishah Azmi, 24, was asked to take it off in class after pupils said they found English lessons hard to understand because they could not see her lips move.

The junior school in Dewsbury, West Yorks, said she could wear her veil in corridors and the staff room - but must remove it when teaching. Angry Miss Azmi refused, claiming the veil was part of her cultural identity, and was suspended.

A council source said yesterday: "It is ridiculous. How can you teach English to young children with a veil over your face?

"The children themselves were complaining. It is about what's best for the children."

And the Muslim Council of Britain said Miss Azmi was wrong to insist on covering her face.

Spokesman Dr Reefat Drabu said that in the presence of young children Muslim women were not even required to wear a headscarf, let alone a veil.

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/tm_headline=e...-name_page.html

[ieldanth 0]

What if she is horribly disfigured and didn't want to scare the children?

[I'm Gone 60]

What if she is horribly disfigured and didn't want to scare the children?

Like that wouldn't?

[Mags 112]

What if she is horribly disfigured and didn't want to scare the children?

But she isn't so that comment is irrelevant.

What if some of her children were hard of hearing and needed to lip read? THAT'S relevant.

[Donna A 4]

why would they hire her in the first place to teach english if they knew her veil would interfere?

[Welshcookie 17]

why would they hire her in the first place to teach english if they knew her veil would interfere?

I read that the agreement was that she could wear the veil anywhere else in the school but not in the classroom...

[Mags 112]

1) "The children themselves were complaining. It is about what's best for the children."

2) And the Muslim Council of Britain said Miss Azmi was wrong to insist on covering her face.

3) Spokesman Dr Reefat Drabu said that in the presence of young children Muslim women were not even required to wear a headscarf, let alone a veil.

Those 3 quotes really stand out for me.

1) The children were complaining. Education is for the children...if they can't understand, or are having problems, then something needs to be done.

2) Even the Muslim Council are disagreeing with her...so if they disagree with her, her OWN people, then she IS in the wrong, IMO.

3) So, why is she wearing it? The word petulance comes to mind. There has been alot in the papers over here in the UK regarding the wearing of veils. Alot of Muslim women are wearing them as an act of defiance. I wonder if this is part of her reasoning for keeping it on.

why would they hire her in the first place to teach english if they knew her veil would interfere?

I read that the agreement was that she could wear the veil anywhere else in the school but not in the classroom...

Yes, welshcookie is right, in front of children she doesn't need to wear it, but in the corridors and staff room she can. She is the one breaking the rules....not the school.

Edited October 14, 2006 by mags

[Veiled Princess 1]

what grade was she teacing? how old are the children?

[Jenn! 918]

what grade was she teacing? how old are the children?

It doesn't specify the grade, but it says children at the school are between the ages of 7 and 11.

[almaty 19]

why would they hire her in the first place to teach english if they knew her veil would interfere?

I read that the agreement was that she could wear the veil anywhere else in the school but not in the classroom...

i think that was a rational solution..

[pedroh 21]

1) "The children themselves were complaining. It is about what's best for the children."

2) And the Muslim Council of Britain said Miss Azmi was wrong to insist on covering her face.

3) Spokesman Dr Reefat Drabu said that in the presence of young children Muslim women were not even required to wear a headscarf, let alone a veil.

Those 3 quotes really stand out for me.

1) The children were complaining. Education is for the children...if they can't understand, or are having problems, then something needs to be done.

2) Even the Muslim Council are disagreeing with her...so if they disagree with her, her OWN people, then she IS in the wrong, IMO.

3) So, why is she wearing it? The word petulance comes to mind. There has been alot in the papers over here in the UK regarding the wearing of veils. Alot of Muslim women are wearing them as an act of defiance. I wonder if this is part of her reasoning for keeping it on.

why would they hire her in the first place to teach english if they knew her veil would interfere?

I read that the agreement was that she could wear the veil anywhere else in the school but not in the classroom...

Yes, welshcookie is right, in front of children she doesn't need to wear it, but in the corridors and staff room she can. She is the one breaking the rules....not the school.

agree, there's nothing controversial here, she signed a paper, she's not following the rules or agreements, well, she can be terminated..

i found this article more interesting:

IT IS HIGH TIME BRITISH MUSLIM WOMEN STOPPED WEARING VEILS

"Full face veils - niqabs - reinforce the segregation between Muslims and the rest of the population.

They're physically constricting and hinder the social and professional capabilities of women who wear them.

They're not even a requirement of Islam and are far more of a political statement than a religious one."

"Prejudice is part and parcel of everyday life and the Muslim community has to accept that non-Muslims have a right to comment on the way it lives."

"slam doesn't demand that women cover their faces. The veil actually predates Islam. In the 10th century, veils were imposed across the Middle East to diminish the status of women.

Personally, I think in the past veils have been used to disempower women. In addition to being a political statement, it's also a feminist issue. The Mirror's story about Aishah Azmi proves just how alienating they can be. She's selfish to take legal action against the school for asking her to remove it.

Why should the kids in her class have to be taught by someone they can't see? Their education is more important than her principles."

[Mirorgate 0]

she'll still make it out to be religious persecution and take it to court. doesnt matter what was in the past as something not even related to the faith... ppl equate it to faith now... so there's the grounds I'm sure.

as stupid as that is.

1) "The children themselves were complaining. It is about what's best for the children."

2) And the Muslim Council of Britain said Miss Azmi was wrong to insist on covering her face.

3) Spokesman Dr Reefat Drabu said that in the presence of young children Muslim women were not even required to wear a headscarf, let alone a veil.

Those 3 quotes really stand out for me.

1) The children were complaining. Education is for the children...if they can't understand, or are having problems, then something needs to be done.

2) Even the Muslim Council are disagreeing with her...so if they disagree with her, her OWN people, then she IS in the wrong, IMO.

3) So, why is she wearing it? The word petulance comes to mind. There has been alot in the papers over here in the UK regarding the wearing of veils. Alot of Muslim women are wearing them as an act of defiance. I wonder if this is part of her reasoning for keeping it on.

why would they hire her in the first place to teach english if they knew her veil would interfere?

I read that the agreement was that she could wear the veil anywhere else in the school but not in the classroom...

Yes, welshcookie is right, in front of children she doesn't need to wear it, but in the corridors and staff room she can. She is the one breaking the rules....not the school.

agree, there's nothing controversial here, she signed a paper, she's not following the rules or agreements, well, she can be terminated..

i found this article more interesting:

IT IS HIGH TIME BRITISH MUSLIM WOMEN STOPPED WEARING VEILS

"Full face veils - niqabs - reinforce the segregation between Muslims and the rest of the population.

They're physically constricting and hinder the social and professional capabilities of women who wear them.

They're not even a requirement of Islam and are far more of a political statement than a religious one."

"Prejudice is part and parcel of everyday life and the Muslim community has to accept that non-Muslims have a right to comment on the way it lives."

"slam doesn't demand that women cover their faces. The veil actually predates Islam. In the 10th century, veils were imposed across the Middle East to diminish the status of women.

Personally, I think in the past veils have been used to disempower women. In addition to being a political statement, it's also a feminist issue. The Mirror's story about Aishah Azmi proves just how alienating they can be. She's selfish to take legal action against the school for asking her to remove it.

Why should the kids in her class have to be taught by someone they can't see? Their education is more important than her principles."

[Veiled Princess 1]

what grade was she teacing? how old are the children?

It doesn't specify the grade, but it says children at the school are between the ages of 7 and 11.

Oh ok... thanks

IT IS HIGH TIME BRITISH MUSLIM WOMEN STOPPED WEARING VEILS

"Full face veils - niqabs - reinforce the segregation between Muslims and the rest of the population.

They're physically constricting and hinder the social and professional capabilities of women who wear them.

They're not even a requirement of Islam and are far more of a political statement than a religious one."

"Prejudice is part and parcel of everyday life and the Muslim community has to accept that non-Muslims have a right to comment on the way it lives."

"slam doesn't demand that women cover their faces. The veil actually predates Islam. In the 10th century, veils were imposed across the Middle East to diminish the status of women.

Personally, I think in the past veils have been used to disempower women. In addition to being a political statement, it's also a feminist issue. The Mirror's story about Aishah Azmi proves just how alienating they can be. She's selfish to take legal action against the school for asking her to remove it.

Why should the kids in her class have to be taught by someone they can't see? Their education is more important than her principles."

Well those women who choose to veil fully do believe it's a religious requirement so it should be respected.

Do I think she should make a big deal out of taking off in front of children? No, but I do know some women who believe boys start puberty young and so they cover in front of them at the ages mentioned above. Not saying I agree there but it's not fair for other Islamic groups to berate her because she doesn't follow their particular version of Islam.

If she's one who holds that believe about young boys then I suppose she should really be teaching them

[PlatyPius 5]

I've never understood that reasoning for wearing a veil. As a male, I can say with confidence that I have NEVER had perverse sexual thoughts after seeing someone's face. It ain't the face that y'all need to cover up, if that's your objective.....

[pedroh 21]

I don't think nowadays people don't wear hte veil for religious purposes.. rathern than political purposes and reasons to be offendd.. if the islam says veils aren't a requirement then #######... it's just a dumb feminist thingie..