BBC Asian Network
The owners of an Asian jewellery shop which was recently robbed have
decided to turn away people wearing the traditional veil worn by Muslim
women.
ATAA Jewellers in the west end of Glasgow was raided by two Asian men
entirely covered apart from their eyes.
The pair wore full Muslim female dress, including the Niqab headwear,
and were carrying handbags.
The two girls working at the time were left so shaken there are plans
for a sign banning anything covers the face.
The store's owners said they think it is an idea that will be taken up
by other businesses.
They acknowledged that such a move may offend some people, but they said
safety was their priority.
“ It will just help if the community gets together and does something
solid ”
Rukhsana Sadiq ATAA Jewellers
Rukhsana Sadiq was in the shop when it was robbed. She spent hours
showing what she thought were the two women gold, but she never saw
their faces.
"We didn't realise how tall they were until we got attacked and the
pepper sprays came out," she said.
Rukhsana said the incident has left her terrified, and suspicious of
everyone she sees.
She added: "They know us by face, but we don't know who they are. I mean
they can even walk by the shop, we don't even know it's them and it's
really, really frightening.
"It will just help if the community gets together and does something
solid, for these women to know. It is our safety that matters as well at
the end of the day.
"God forbid anything like this happening to anyone else."
Rukhsana's brother Mohammed Amin Sadiq said it was not the first time
that a veil's been used as a disguise in the area.
"There's been an incident in another Asian shop," he said. "Two females
came in, or males. They picked up a bag of money, but the shop owner
took note and they ran out."
For the Sadiq family protecting business is the most important thing and
they want clear boundaries for anyone who shops there.
They told the BBC Asian Network that when they get a sign there will be
ways around the rule, like ringing up in advance to make sure there is a
female member of staff present to identify a shopper wearing the Niqab.
But Madihah Ansari, a 19-year-old student in Glasgow, said a sign
banning the veil was not the solution.
Madihah wears a Burkha and always has her head and body covered.
Sometimes she chooses to wear a Niqab as well, meaning her face is
covered.
She said: "I just really don't like that idea. It is like prejudice
about one type of person.
“ Business people have to make a decision; do they want their customers
in or not with that type of dress? ”
Cllr Hanzala Malik
"Just because two guys did a crime and they were dressed up in that kind
of outfit you can't prejudice everyone else.
"There'll be loads of people who just want to go in and buy gold and
come out. To prevent them kind of reminds me of when they had signs
saying 'no blacks'."
Glasgow councillor Hanzala Malik has backed the shops decision to turn
people away who cover their faces.
However, he agreed that a sign may cause offence.
He said: "Business people have to make a decision; do they want their
customers in or not with that type of dress?
"I know in Scotland that banks will not allow their customers coming in
with motorbike helmets, I don't see why it should be different for
people wearing the Niqab. It is an issue about identifying people."
You can hear a full report on this on the BBC Asian Network at 1230 and
1800 BST on Tuesday.
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news. bbc.co.uk/ go/pr/fr/ -/1/hi/scotland/ glasgow_and_ west/8021627.
stm
Published: 2009/04/27 23:32:27 GMT
Tuesday, 28 April 2009
Shop raid prompts Muslim veil ban
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