Sir, The only principled objection to the veil is that the wearer has been compelled to wear it. The problem is that in many cases this compulsion has become embedded: the wearer insists that she is wearing it of her own free will, when in fact she has been indoctrinated to such an extent that she cannot imagine having freedom of choice.

Two solutions present themselves. First, the veil should be forbidden in school: this ban should cover the private sector as well, so that fundamentalists cannot preserve their separateness in madrassas. Muslim children, like other minorities, must get used to conforming when at school.

Secondly, the Government should remember that its contract is with individual citizens, not groups or sub-cultures. It has made a grave mistake in choosing to interact with the Muslim population via so-called representative organisations. Instead, it should reach out to the hundreds of thousands of moderate British Muslims who wish to enjoy free and independent lives and offer them a haven as individuals from their oppressive spiritual masters. It is time to stop tolerating intolerance.

RICHARD COOPER
Gosport, Hants

Sir, I see many people whose mode of dress strikes me sometimes as distasteful and sometimes as threatening, but it is not my business, and I make no comment. However, if I see someone riding a motorcycle wearing a head dress other than a crash helmet, or walking the streets displaying a dagger, I know that they are breaking the law and I expect them to be dealt with.

If someone is British, he should be required to speak English because that is our official language without which it is impossible to function as a British citizen. He should obey our laws; if his personal beliefs compel him to behave in a way that we regard as illegal he must choose between staying here and conforming, or transferring his citizenship to a country where his behaviour is acceptable. And in all our dealings we must address him directly and personally as an individual citizen, not treat him as a member of some ill-defined alien community, which can only be addressed through its leaders.

In dealings with the citizen we should eliminate reference to the irrelevant factor of personal faith. We are already required to ignore age, gender, sexual orientation and ethnic origin when dealing with people. First on this list should be religious belief.

JOHN BISHOP
Needingworth, Cambs

Sir, Presumably these young women who espouse the veil do not wish to take examinations where their identity needs to be ascertained. They will go through life without taking a driving test, driving a car, going through passport control or approaching a bank counter.

I have stayed in several Middle Eastern countries. I would have followed local customs through courtesy, but the local laws defined what I could wear, where I could eat, forbade me driving, and forbade any non-Islamic religious activity.

JO BOOTH DAVEY
Swindon

Sir, During the debate on the Muslim veil I heard it mentioned that women were not able to enter some mosques.

Can I suggest that Muslim women, and their husbands, take inspiration from English suffragettes, who a century ago fought for the right for women to participate in daily life?

PAULINE DUMBRILL
Cheltenham

Sir, It does not come as a surprise to read that a terror suspect decided to wear the burka to escape the probing eyes of security staff and CCTV cameras (report, Oct 9). What does surprise me is how Shahid Malik, one of the four Muslim MPs, has labelled this serious incident “isolated” and one that should be ignored in the grand scheme of better community relations.

As a British Muslim, conscious of my rights to security, I demand that the Government takes this debate seriously and ensures that all the necessary steps are taken that will render our streets safer.

SHAAZ MAHBOOB
Hillingdon, Middx

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