MOST veiled Muslim women questioned in the Bengali community of Whitechapel, East London, were surprised yesterday that Aishah Azmi insisted on wearing her veil while teaching.

Hushna Begum, 31, wears a veil similar to Ms Azmi’s, with just her eyes showing through a narrow slit. She told The Times, however, that she thought nothing of taking it off in front of male clients while working as an interpreter.

“I have worn a full veil for about ten years, but when I was working as an interpreter I didn’t wear it, I just took it off,” she said. “Our religion is not that strict, so wearing a veil is a personal decision, but I think everyone has the right to wear it. I always wear mine outside because it makes me feel protected from men, not just white men, but all men. But when I was working as an interpreter taking if off just seemed to be the right thing to do.”

Her sister, Jushna Khan, 34, a former teaching assistant, said: “I didn’t take the decision to wear a veil until after I stopped working as a teaching assistant, but I don’t think I would have worn it in the classroom. However, I do think it is discrimination. Women should be free to wear a veil if they want to.”

Jahan Minara, 36, a mother of three children, has worn the veil for ten years but took hers off when she worked in an office. She said: “In Islam wearing the veil is optional. For her to wear it in the classroom was not necessary. Maybe she took it to an extreme level, perhaps to avoid all possible male contact, but I don’t think it’s right to take it to that level.”

Nazma Begum, 34, has worn a veil for two years. She was the only veiled woman The Times spoke to who was fully sympathetic with Ms Azmi. She said: “It is her religion and it is up to her. It is not fair.”

Some women wearing hijabs, scarves that cover their hair but leave their face uncovered, also criticised Ms Azmi. Sarjan Bibi, 32, who was born in Bangladesh but has lived in Britain for 18 years, said: “They were right to suspend her because you cannot teach English properly wearing a veil.”

Shamsun Ali, 26, and Jannaath Qhatun, 28, who wear the hijab and the jilbab, a long, loose gown, fear that the tribunal’s ruling is the thin end of the wedge. Ms Qhatun said: “To suspend a woman for wearing a veil is racist discrimination. And giving her just £1,000 compensation for the way she was treated is disgusting. They will be stopping us wearing the hijab and the jilbab next. Where will it end?”

Ms Ali, a law student, said that she felt discriminated against. “I started wearing the hijab only recently. But I have been to a couple of job interviews recently and I was rejected even though I was well qualified. I am convinced it is because of what I wear. Islam is a peaceful religion, but because of a violent minority we are all being victimised and it hurts.”

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