And some Muslim leaders in Britain, of course, play the “discrimination” card, which they never seem to tire of doing even in the most outlandish contexts. From the BBC, with thanks to all who sent this in:
Cabinet Minister Jack Straw has said he would prefer Muslim women not to wear veils at all.
The Commons leader said he did not want to be “prescriptive” but he believed that covering people’s faces could make community relations more difficult.
Mr Straw has said he asks Muslim women at his Blackburn constituency surgeries if they would mind removing veils.
Some Muslim women called his remarks insulting, but other Muslims said they understood his concerns….
Mr Straw’s comments have provoked a mixed response from Muslim groups.
The Islamic Human Rights Commission labelled the article “astonishing” and accused Mr Straw of discrimination.
The Protect-Hijab organisation said the “appalling” comments showed “a deep lack of understanding”.
But Dr Daud Abdullah, of the Muslim Council of Britain, said he could understand Mr Straw’s discomfort adding that women could choose to remove the veil.
Conservative policy director Oliver Letwin said it would be “dangerous doctrine” to tell people how to dress.
“If a person is making a statement about how they want to dress, I think it’s pretty important we live in a country where you’re allowed to do that,” he said.
And Liberal Democrat president Simon Hughes accused Mr Straw of being insensitive.
“The experience of visiting their MP is difficult enough for many people without having to consider a dress code,” said Mr Hughes.
Muslim Labour MP Shahid Malik applauded Mr Straw for being honest and said he was entitled to make his request as long as he respected the decision of people who refused the request.
Mr Malik said the remarks came on the trail of other media stories about Muslims and he appealed for calm.
“The problem is not necessarily what Jack is saying but the climate in which he’s saying it,” he said.
In other words, he’s saying it at a time when Muslim mobs have killed for less. Better he shut up.