LONDON, Aug 3: A leading moderate Muslim in Britain on Wednesday advised women against wearing the veil for safety reasons in the aftermath of the London bombings. “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, chairman of the Council of Mosques and Imams and head of the Muslim College in London.

The Egyptian-born leader made the call amid fears that Muslims could be targeted in a backlash over last month’s attacks in London. The city’s police department said faith hate crimes were up 600 per cent on the same period last year after the attacks.

“In the present tense situation, with the rise of attacks on Muslims, we advise Muslim women who fear being attacked physically or verbally to remove their hijab so as not to be identified by those who are hostile to Muslims,” said Mr Badawi.

Mr Badawi said the Holy Quran justified removing the hijab, as it instructed women to dress so they could be ‘identified and not molested’.

“The preservation of life and limb has a much higher priority than appearance, whether in dress or in speech,” he added. Mr Badawi was denied entry to the United States with no explanation a week after the deadly attacks, but accepted an unreserved apology offered later. He was due to speak in New York on the law and Islam. —AFP