Take off the headscarf, but keep on lying

Zaki Badawi, chairman of the Council of Mosques and Imams and head of the Muslim College in London, said yesterday that Muslim women in Britain can enjoy a temporary respite from one aspect of Islamic gender Apartheid, thanks ironically to the efforts of racist hooligans.

"A woman wearing the hijab in the present circumstances could suffer aggression from irresponsible elements. Therefore, she ought not to wear it," said Zaki Badawi

Agence France Presse goes on to include this eyebrow-raising instruction from Badawi:

"The preservation of life and limb has a much higher priority than appearance, whether in dress or in speech."

"In speech"? Now what do you suppose he means by that?