Requesting members to regularly check the media for reports/articles which are attracting comment and leading to a wider debate on Islam in UK and Western Europe.

It should be re-iterated that Islam does not make it mandatory for Muslim women to wear the face veil, nor does Islam promote or condone the oppression or cruelty of women. 

Before the advent of the Holy Founder of Islam (pbuh) women were oppressed in most societies and cultures across the world.  In fact Islam was the first religion to establish the rights of women in society by establishing property rights, rights of inheritance, the right to divorce, and for widows to remarry.

Oppression and abuse of women continues today in a variety of forms - even in Western society.  It is wrong for Muslim men to misrepresent the true teachings of Islam to justify their abuse, cruelty and oppression.  However it is also wrong for 'Western Democracies' to ban women who choose to wear the veil from doing so in all public settings.

Whilst a debate on whether women delivering vital public services, or undergoing security checks should be asked to remove the face veil may be relevant, banning it completely is a breach of Human Rights and another sign of growing Islamophobia across Western Europe.