UK NEWS

CAMERON BACKS BAN ON BURKHAS

SUPPORT: But the Tory leader risks angering radical Muslims over the burkha

Tuesday June 30,2009

By Macer Hall, Political Editor

DAVID Cameron yesterday backed schools that ban Muslim garments such as the burkha and the niqab from the classroom.

In comments likely to anger some radical Muslims, the Conservative leader said religious head-to-toe garb was impractical for teachers and pupils alike.

But he stopped short of calling for an outright ban on full-face veils in public.

Mr Cameron said: “It’s a free country and people have to be free to wear what they choose.

“I think the difficult area is that those rights come up against other problems.”

Schools should be allowed to set guidelines on what both children and teachers wear, he said.

“I don’t think you can wear full garb and be an effective teacher. I think it’s extremely difficult. If schools want to set rules about those things, the Government should be backing those schools that set rules”.

The Tory leader’s remarks came after French President Nicolas Sarkozy said the burkha “will not be welcome on the territory of the French Republic.”

Mr Cameron declined to go as far as Mr Sarkozy in opposing “oppressive dress that breaches individual freedoms.”

But his comments will anger some campaigners who are pressing for Muslim youngsters to be excluded from school uniform rules on religious grounds.

He also expressed concern that the spread of Islamic Sharia courts in Britain could lead to some people having their legal rights infringed.

“Of course, if people want to go and seek guidance from religious officials on issues to do with religious law or family disputes, then they are at liberty to do that,” he said.

“But let me be clear that that cannot override your rights in law.”

His remarks came after the Daily Express yesterday highlighted a report from the think-tank Civitas revealing there are at least 85 Sharia courts operating in Britain.

Mr Cameron added: “My reaction to reading that story frankly on the extent of Sharia courts is that we do need to make sure people using them are well aware of their rights in British law.

“Otherwise, new arrivals here might find that they are not having the access to law and justice that they should be having and, as a result, are not being treated equally in our country.”

David Cameron also revealed yesterday that his Shadow Cabinet team is to give up any second jobs by the end of the year.

The move follows criticism of MPs “moonlighting” from Parliament by doing private sector jobs that can earn up to £200,000-a-year.