Havant Muslim woman speaks out on Boris Johnson burka controversy
Basira Ajmal, from Havant, has spoken out after comments made from former foreign secretary Boris Johnson on the clothing item.
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Hide AdThe 23-year-old said she chose to wear a hijab and cover part of her face when she was 15 to follow her faith.
Mr Johnson has faced criticism after comparing women who wear a burka to letterboxes and bank robbers in his Daily Telegraph column.
Ms Ajmal said: '˜I do not wear a niqab/burka but I find it highly offensive and appalling that a British politician ridicules and insults Muslim women who do.
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Hide Ad'˜We are living in the 21st century and in the Great Britain which proudly speaks of its freedom of choice and rights of women. It is a society where people from diverse backgrounds, cultures and beliefs are celebrated rather than reproached.
'˜Politicians like Boris Johnson are doing nothing but damaging the peace of society at a time when we need unity. He speaks of 'live and let live', but can't restrain himself from criticising a section of society who doesn't dress as he likes.
'˜I would like to tell him they do not care if he likes their appearance or not because they are grown-up women who have every right to decide for themselves what they want to or do not want to wear.'
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Hide AdSince the comments, the Tory party has been split with some calling for Mr Johnson to apologise. He is facing a possible investigation for breach of his party's code of conduct.
Ms Ajmal said in his role as a politician Mr Johnson is a public representative and should '˜unify all types of people in his country'.
'˜I would like to tell all the people defending Mr Johnson in the name of free speech, including Rowan Atkinson, that there is a difference between free speech and hate speech,' she added.
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Hide Ad'˜I would like to tell those who think a burka should be banned, that they shouldn't for one second, think they are any better than the governments and individuals who force women to wear it.
'˜Stop forcing and telling women what to wear and what to not.'