LONDON: After mass protests forced the Birmingham Metropolitan College to drop the controversial ban on face veils used by Muslim students, Britain's deputy prime minister Nick Clegg on Monday raised a storm by supporting the ban.
It's not appropriate for students to wear veil in classrooms, Clegg said while maintaining that people were free to wear what they wished.
Earlier, home office minister Jeremy Browne said a national debate was needed to settle the issue.
"This is a free country and people going about their own business should be free to wear what they wish," Clegg said.
But in the same breath, he added, " I think there should be exceptions to that as far as the full veil is concerned - security at airports for instance. It is perfectly reasonable for us to say the full veil is clearly not appropriate there."
UK's deputy PM backs veil ban on students - The Times of India
It's not appropriate for students to wear veil in classrooms, Clegg said while maintaining that people were free to wear what they wished.
Earlier, home office minister Jeremy Browne said a national debate was needed to settle the issue.
"This is a free country and people going about their own business should be free to wear what they wish," Clegg said.
But in the same breath, he added, " I think there should be exceptions to that as far as the full veil is concerned - security at airports for instance. It is perfectly reasonable for us to say the full veil is clearly not appropriate there."
UK's deputy PM backs veil ban on students - The Times of India