Muslims & Veils

There’s been massive coverage of a Muslim teaching assistant who wanted to wear a veil in school, when adult men were around. She had no problem teaching young kids, or with women, but when men were around, she wanted to wear the veil.

The local education authority said no, and so, off they all went to court. Not a great use of my tax money, (as all the lawyers were state funded) but there it is.

I have to say, personally, I find veiled women slightly unpleasant. And despite protestations, I think it is misogyny writ large. Nonetheless, if women (foolishly in my view) choose to subject themselves to this, that is their choice. Freedom, is only real, when you let another person do, that which you disapprove of.

Consequently, I find myself on the lady’s side, not the education authority.

I saw her press conference yesterday. The local authority claimed she could not be understood if veiled. What was very clear from yesterday’s coverage, is that she was clear and lucid, (as well as having something of an annoying voice). I had no trouble at all understanding what she was saying.

So, I think she is stupid to self-veil, I think someone is pulling her strings, and I’m not thrilled my taxes were wasted in this. But in the end, I agree with the woman. She has the right to wear what she wants, it doesn’t affect her ability to be understood, and the education authority, were in my view, dead wrong to sack her.