Tony Blair And Romano Prodi Both Speak Out Against The Veil

It doesn't surprise me too much coming from Tony Blair, but such criticism coming from Prodi seems damned near miraculous:


LONDON (Reuters) - Two European leaders separately voiced concern at the Muslim veil on Tuesday, with Britain's Tony Blair calling it a "mark of separation" and Italy's Romano Prodi saying it should not be used to hide behind.

Both leaders said the wearing of full veils presented difficulties for their nations with Muslim communities and immigrants needing to integrate into Western societies.

"It is a mark of separation and that's why it makes other people from outside the community feel uncomfortable," British Prime Minister Tony Blair said when asked his opinion on the veil, which has become a hot topic in Britain in recent weeks.

Former Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said earlier this month he asked Muslim women in his constituency to remove their veils when they come to see him. And a Muslim teaching assistant was suspended over her refusal to remove a veil which left only her eyes visible.

In Italy, Prime Minister Romano Prodi told Reuters it was a matter of common sense that people show their faces in public.

"You can't cover your face. If you have a veil, fine, but you must be seen," Prodi told Reuters. "This is common sense I think, it is important for our society. It is not how you dress but if you are hidden or not."