[Rocol]

A political storm surrounding former Home Secretary Jack Straw is intensifying after he insisted he has the right to ask Muslim women to remove their veils when they visit his offices.

Mr Straw's comments have provoked anger among the Muslim community and opposition politicians.

The Conservative Party described the remarks as dangerous and Respect MP George Galloway has demanded Mr Straw's resignation.

The row erupted when Mr Straw said he felt "uncomfortable" talking with someone whose face he could not see and described the veil as a "visible statement of separation and difference".

A Muslim group accused Mr Straw of "selectively discriminating", and Muslim leaders in the politician's Blackburn constituency said many Muslim women would find his comments "offensive and disturbing".

But another Muslim group said it thought Mr Straw's comments were "understandable".
The Leader of the Commons made the comments in a regular column for his local newspaper.

He said wearing the full veil was "bound to make better, positive relations between the two communities more difficult".

He said he was worried about the wider implications for community relations of the "increasing trend" of Muslim women dressing with a veil.

The Lancashire Council of Mosques said Mr Straw had "misunderstood" the issue and it was "deeply concerned" by his "very insensitive and unwise" statement.

"For such a seasoned and astute politician to make such a comment that has shocked his Muslim constituents seems ill-judged and misconceived," a spokesman said.

The Islamic Human Rights Commission said Mr Straw was "selectively discriminating".
Other Muslim groups said they were less concerned by the comments.

Dr Daud Abdullah, of the Muslim Council of Britain, said he understood Mr Straw's views.

He said: "There are those who believe it is obligatory for the Muslim woman to cover her face. Others say she is not obliged to cover up. It's up to the woman to make the choice."

It is not very often that I agree with Politicians, but in this case I think that he is absolutely correct, they, nor anyone else, should be permitted to walk into Public Offices, or Buildings with a full face mask on, I know that if I went into a bank, all dressed in black and with a full face mask on, I would soon be arrested.

It is not as though he is asking for them to walk in naked.

Personnaly I think that the Muslims are begining to get out of control with their demands and ridiculous accusations .. I say this, and always have done .. If anyone goes to another country, you abide by the Law of the Land.