School assistant who would not compromise over veil is sacked

The Muslim teaching assistant who refused to remove her veil in school if a man was present has been sacked after failing to make concessions.

Aishah Azmi, 24, lost a discrimination and harassment case at an employment tribunal last month, and saw support collapse among parents at Headfield Church of England junior school in Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, over what was seen as an uncompromising stand.

Mrs Azmi, who was awarded £1,000 by the tribunal in Leeds because of mishandled disciplinary processes, was dismissed yesterday after a hearing at the school. She started work a year ago but was suspended in the spring when she refused a male teacher’s request that she remove the veil when helping children in her role as a bilingual support assistant.

The case added to the controversy which followed Jack Straw’s request to veiled women to uncover their faces during constituency surgeries in Blackburn. He warned that the use of the full veil, or niqab, by a growing number of women was damaging community relations.

Mrs Azmi, who made her stand after taking advice from an imam in Dewsbury, was urged to compromise last month by the local Labour MP Shahid Malik.

He said yesterday: “I’m disappointed that a compromise could not be reached. But while I would absolutely defend her right to wear the veil in society, it’s very clear that her wearing it in the classroom setting inhibits her ability to support children. This is not about religion.”

Mrs Azmi’s claim was brought as a test case under rules set out in the Employment Equality (Religion or Belief) Regulations 2004. She is considering an appeal.

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