London: The Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) has issued a statement on its website saying that women cannot debate wearing the veil.
The body that claims to be the voice of Britain’s Muslim population has said that not covering the face is a "shortcoming" and suggested that any Muslims who advocate being uncovered could be guilty of rejecting Islam.
"We advise all Muslims to exercise extreme caution on this issue, since denying any part of Islam may lead to disbelief,” warns the statement published on the website.
"It is not for a believer, man or woman, that they should have any option in their decision when Allah and his Messenger have decreed a matter," the statement quotes from the Koran.
The statement was issued in the wake of the veil controversy after France banned the full-face covering, the Telegraph reports.
"There is no case for a French-style ban in the UK and virtually no serious person supports it," said Haras Rafiq, Director of Centri, an organization that specializes in countering terrorism.
"But by this statement, effectively suggesting that the veil is an obligation, the MCB have put themselves at the opposite extreme of the spectrum," Rafiq added.
The MCB’s then Secretary General, Mohammad Abdul Bari, and his deputy, Daud Abdullah, sign the statement. It was published in the wake of an earlier controversy about the niqab but passed without notice.
It remains available on the MCB website as a statement of policy.
ANI
