Appeal Argued In Case Of British Teacher Fired For Wearing Niqab

The London Employment Appeal Tribunal heard arguments Wednesday in an appeal by a British teacher who was fired last year for refusing to remove her full-face veil (niqab) while teaching children at Headfield Church of England Junior School in Dewsbury, West Yorkshire. (See prior posting.) This Is London reported yesterday on the hearing in the widely-followed case of 24-year old Muslim teaching assistant, Aishah Azmi. Her counsel argued that dismissing her was similar to barring a Christian from wearing a cross or attending Mass. School officials say students found it difficult to understand Azmi because they could not see her lips move.