Saturday's Letters: A ban on the veil goes against Western values

While I do not agree that a ban is the way forward, I do agree that a better understanding of the Islamic position on this issue needs to be addressed.

People need to understand the Islamic injunctions and philosophy governing society which will enable people to appreciate and better understand (though not agree with) the position taken by Islam on segregation and the issue of the veil.

In short, Islam seeks to promote a society in which values such as honesty, trust, loyalty, justice, respect, freedom, and equality form

the backbone of society.

Too many commentators these days appear to be giving the perception that they represent the Muslim masses and are experts on this issue when, in fact, they are not – all they are doing is perpetuating false stereotypes which only serves to alienate rather than enhance mutual understanding.

Muslims are privileged to live in Britain which does not interfere in an individual's personal matters and allows one to practise their

religion freely – a right which is not even enjoyed in some so-called Muslim states.

This is exactly what a secular and democratic state should do.

To go down the path of France would create unrest and disorder in society. Some would argue that such rights are not granted to non-Muslims in Muslim countries but two wrongs do not make a right and doesn't the West have superior levels of human rights, equality and tolerance?

If the West is to continue to uphold these values and laws, it will need to stop pandering to the extremist Right-wing agenda of promoting discrimination and Islamophobia.

Any ban may also run the risk of legal challenge as it may contravene both Article 18 of the United Nations Declaration on Human Rights and (in France) France's Declaration of Rights of Man and of the Citizen on which the French Constitution is based.

These ensure freedom to practise religion and hold religious beliefs.

Whether we agree with it or not, Muslim women should be entitled to wear the burka/niqab or other form of head covering. For many, this is a requirement of their faith.

To suggest or give a perception that the majority of Muslim women are forced to do this, and that Islam advocates inequality between the sexes, is absolutely absurd and lacks understanding of the Islamic faith.

There is nothing to fear from Islam, which exists in harmony within a secular society.

From: Farooq Aftab, Upper Mount Street, Lockwood, Huddersfield.

History will have verdict on Blair

From: David McKenna, Hall Gardens, Rawcliffe, Goole.

I WAS pleased to read the several letters from your correspondents (Yorkshire Post, February 3) regarding the latest pantomime concerning the rights and wrongs (and there are plenty) of the Iraq invasion.

Alan Marsden tells us that he felt "queasy with disgust" as he witnessed the mealy-mouthed question and answer session when Tony Blair responded, with suitable hand gestures, to the points put to him.

I am surprised that Mr Marsden did not put his foot through his TV screen.

Had the panel chairman, Sir John Chilcot, not realised that, being a practised barrister, Blair would easily fend off any "hard"

questioning?

As it happened anyway, no such questioning was ever forthcoming and

once again Blair, or Teflon Tony as he has become known, slipped

through the net and will no doubt continue to milk the speeches circuit for all he is worth.

His next "presentation" will probably be entitled, "How to handle a Chilcot", for which he will be paid an undisclosed sum to add to

his millions.

The only consolation that I can offer Mr Marsden is to refer him to a quotation from Shakespeare's Hamlet:

The evil that men do lives after them,

The good is oft interred with their bones.

Let's hope that one sticks in the history books.

Get Cable on board

From: David H Rhodes, Keble Park North, Bishopthorpe, York.

AN open suggestion to David Cameron. If you are to form the next government through a coalition with the Lib Dems, please consider the following.

The first post you should appoint is Vince Cable as Chancellor of the Exchequer. This would be a brilliant strategy to get the Lib Dems on side like red meat to a tiger.

In my mind, Vince Cable scores on two points; firstly, he is renowned for talking common sense and his words are creditable with the populace; secondly, he has a relaxed and studied air of gravitas appropriate for an elder statesman.

This, rather than the "boys in shorts" image of some potential Tory cabinet ministers.

Come on David, cut the waffle. List three or four firm policies clearly and precisely and stick with them. Go down the route of future planning such as the immediate start of one or two power stations, joined-up transport policy, etc.

The public are completely turned off by PMs who are posturing, egotistical, self-important and whose self-deluded efforts to appear a world statesman are a butt of amusement – best left to Tony Blair.

End of line for Cadbury

From: Janet Berry, Hambleton.

WHAT a pleasure to watch Great British Railways Journeys by Michael Portillo on the BBC. He is such an engaging affable person, rather like Michael Palin, (and far too nice to have been a Prime Minister).

The irony was that he visited the delightful Bournville, home of

Cadbury, and what a beautiful attractive place it was. One resident said it was a wonderful place to live and let it continue for another

40 years.

Who could have foretold the aggressive takeover by Kraft and that our own banks would help to provide the finance?

There seems no logic to spoil this successful company which is the pride of Britain for personal greed and in the long run it can only be bad for people who depend on Cadbury for their livelihood.

I personally think Cadbury's chocolate is the best in the world and it is wrong that this should belong to the United States.

GPs damage their image

From: Brian Sheridan, Redmires Road, Sheffield.

RETIRED GP Ian Jollie's concern for the image of his latter-day counterparts is well-founded ("GP night calls a failure", Yorkshire Post, February 4). His own position is not unlike that of professional footballers whose career finished before the abolition of the maximum wage.

They were highly respected in their day; unlike today's overpaid stars who, with a few exceptions, are regarded with resentment and contempt, even among fans.

It is not the fault of GPs or professional footballers that they have been handed such a cushy number.

A GP would have to be a saint not to opt out of night work in return for a negligible reduction in salary.

However, it is discouraging to see GPs using valuable consultation time for routine ancillary work for which the Government, in its wisdom, has given them an incentive. Isn't there a danger that young people will be entering the medical profession for the wrong reasons?

Education is valuable, not the student lifestyle

From: Margaret Claxton, Arden Court, Northallerton.

AT the age of 88, my heart bleeds for Ryan Shorthouse (Yorkshire Post, February 3), condemned to no more lie-ins, parties or cheap societies.

As a good education seems to be fairly low in his requirements, it would be perhaps presumptuous of me, a mere BA (Hons) of the Open University, to point out that qualifications can be obtained other than at bricks and mortar universities. From leaving grammar school, I went straight to night school to get a business qualification, and from then on was never far from education of some sort.

Even in the ATS, I managed to squeeze in several courses in quantity surveying.

Some of my studies were free, others I had to pay for, but all the time there were interesting people and things along

the way.

It seems to me that many university courses these days pay lip service to degrees and could very well be taught in night school.

From: Bridget Dyson, Holmfirth.

So we bring our children up encouraging them to stay out of trouble, work hard at school, achieve good results and go to university.

Have the Government and the media any idea how demoralising it is to an 18-year-old at the moment with the continuing negative news regarding universities places or should I say lack of them (Yorkshire Post, February 3)?

Then the news that a Romanian man has had his prison sentenced reduced from five to three years for attacking and raping a young mother at a railway station – the reason for this appalling attack is seemingly because he wanted to learn English in prison.

Could this be anything to do with the fact that there is not enough funding for universities, schools, hospitals, the elderly and so on? As a country we need to get to grips with what is really dragging us down –oh and, dare I say it, what about the victim?

Memories of Firbeck Hall

From: JW Slack, Swinston Hill Road, Dinnington, Sheffield.

WITH reference to the article on Firbeck Hall (Yorkshire Post, January 22), I was brought up in Dinnington during the war, and with three friends, regularly walked the three miles to Firbeck to watch the aircraft at the small airfield there where the Polish airmen befriended us.

I wonder if Eric Matthews (Yorkshire Post, January 30) recalls that the hall became a rehabilitation centre for injured miners. At the time, my parents were members of the local Methodist choir in Dinnington which entertained the miners in the hall on several occasions.

I can remember the table-tennis table and the various pieces of equipment designed to strengthen and exercise damaged limbs. I loved those visits and it is tragic that such a facility should have been allowed to deteriorate.

Pitting principle against equality

From: John Watson, Hutton Hill, Leyburn.

I AM neither a Roman Catholic nor a fan of the Papacy, but I do think the Pope was right in what he said about the Government's equality laws.

What does a religious leader say when he has devoted the whole of his life to the church, any church, when he is confronted with legislation which opposes all he stands for?

A principle is not something to be ignored or altered on the whim of a permissive society.

So, I say to Harriet Harman, do away with your Bill, it is going to cause more trouble than it is worth.

On the skids

From: Dorothy Cope, Beckwithshaw, Harrogate.

DURING the snow and ice, there were many car accidents, many of which were due to a lack of experience of these conditions, especially in the 18-25 age group.

I feel it might be helpful if driving instructors taught pupils to use their gears and engine more to slow down and keep better control of their vehicle.

Perhaps half an hour on a skid pan would teach them the confidence to deal with a skid?

Refund due?

From: David Bentley, Pickering.

SINCE councils like North Yorkshire are intent on increasing their rates of tax due to the harsh winter (Yorkshire Post, February 2). Can we expect refunds next year if the winter is mild?