A Pakistani-origin bishop in the UK has called for a near-total ban on wearing of burkhas in public places in the country as he backed former British foreign secretary. Michael Nazir Ali, the former Bishop of Rochester, said the burkhas should be outlawed in a wide range of situations where people interact, for example in hospitals, doctors surgeries, universities and schools, according to a report by the Daily Express.
The controversial call from the bishop was backed by former Archbishop of Canterbury Lord Carey. Ali was the first non-white diocesan bishop in the Church of England
Johnson has been accused of Islamophobia after saying Muslim women wearing burkas "look like letter boxes". In his Telegraph column he said he was against bans on face-covering veils in public places, but that it was "ridiculous" people chose to wear them. The Muslim Council of Britain accused him of "pandering to the far right".
Labour MP Jess Phillips said she would report Mr Johnson to the Equality and Human Rights Commission.
Ali added: "It is true that some women choose to wear the burkha or niqab because they feel it makes them more observant Muslims. It is also true however that the burkha or niqab is being weaponised by Islamists to impose what they consider to be 'Islamic' character on communities, neighbourhoods and even nations."
