Veiled teaching assistant sacked
Muslim teaching assistant who was suspended for refusing to remove her veil in the classroom has been sacked.
Aishah Azmi, 24, of Thornhill Lees, Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, was suspended on full pay earlier this year by Kirklees Council and has now been sacked, sources said.
Last month, an employment tribunal dismissed three of Mrs Azmi’s claims of discrimination and harassment but found that she was victimised by Headfield Church of England Junior School in Dewsbury and awarded her £1,000 for “injury to feelings”.
A Kirklees Council spokesman said he could not comment on Mrs Azmi’s employment status due to confidentiality rules.
Mrs Azmi’s lawyer Nick Whittingham, of the Kirklees Law Centre, said the local education authority were involved in a disciplinary process against her but he was not aware that any decision had been reached.
Today Mr Malik said: "I'm obviously disappointed that a compromise could not be reached. But while I would absolutely defend her right to wear the veil in society, it's very clear that her wearing the veil in the classroom setting inhibits her ability to support children."
The MP said the case was not about religion, but was about the education of the children at the school.
“And what must come first are the interests, well-being and education of our children,” he said.
A statement issued by Kirklees Council on behalf of Headfield School said: “The staffing dismissals committee of Headfield CE Junior School governing body held a disciplinary hearing into the circumstances that resulted in the suspension of a bilingual support worker at the school.
“As a result of the hearing, the committee decided to terminate the employment of the employee concerned.”
