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In Britain, Veil Issue Sparks Islamophobia Debate

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October 16, 2006

Britain is in a heated debate over Muslim women who wear face-covering veils, and whether the practice hurts communication between communities. A Muslim teaching assistant has been suspended for refusing to take off her veil while teaching at a school in the north of England.

Some government ministers and opposition leaders have said that the veil isolates Muslim women from the rest of British society. However, many Muslim leaders say they are worried by a lack of sensitivity toward their community, and say they're seeing a growth of "Islamophobia" in British society.

Relations between many Muslims and the government in Britain have deteriorated since the transit attacks in London last year. The British government has been pushing Muslims to make a greater effort to integrate with the rest of the community.

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