London, England - A Muslim teaching assistant who refused to remove her veil in the classroom has been fired by the British primary school she worked for, the local authority said Friday.
Aishah Azmi insisted on wearing a niqab — a veil which leaves only the eyes visible — during lessons, and in October, the local education authority suspended her with pay. On Friday, a brief statement issued by the Kirklees Council said that a hearing had been held by the school's governing body, and that it was decided to "terminate the employment of the employee concerned."
Azmi was not immediately available for comment.
She taught 11-year-olds at Headfield Church of England Junior School, in Dewsbury, northern England. Last month, Azmi lost two claims of discrimination and harassment, though an employment tribunal awarded her 1,000 pounds (US$1,900; €1,500) for injury to her feelings.
It rejected allegations she had been subjected to direct and indirect discrimination and harassment.
Shahid Malik, the lawmaker who represents Dewsbury — which has a large Muslim population — said it was unfortunate a compromise couldn't be reached, but said that "what must come first are the interests, well-being and education of our children."
Azmi's case is part of a wide-ranging debate — which has recently intensified — over the decision by some Muslim women to wear full veils and the participation of religious groups in British society.
Last week, a British Airways employee lost an appeal of a decision that saw her sent home for wearing a cross pendant over her uniform. The airline said the cross violated its uniform code, but Nadia Eweida said she is the victim of religious discrimination, and that she didn't want to hide the cross because "Jesus has to be glorified."
Earlier this month, a Muslim lawyer refused a judge's orders to remove her full-face veil during a hearing because he could not hear her. The firm of Shabnam Mughal, 27, removed her from the case, which was being heard by an immigration tribunal.
The incident prompted the Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales, Lord Phillips, to call for detailed guidance to be drawn up regarding anyone involved in a case wearing a veil.
And in October, Jack Straw, the leader of the House of Commons and former foreign secretary, said he requested that Muslim women visiting his office remove their veils. Prime Minister Tony Blair eventually joined the discussion, saying the niqab is "a mark of separation."
In Azmi's case, the government's race minister, Phil Woolas, said she should be dismissed because her refusal to remove her veil meant she was unable to do her job and was denying children their education.