A Muslim classroom assistant suspended by a school for wearing a veil in lessons has been sacked.
Aishah Azmi, 23, was asked to remove the veil after the Church of England school in Dewsbury, West Yorks, said pupils found it hard to understand her.
Last month, an employment tribunal ruled Mrs Azmi had not been discriminated against, but awarded her £1,100 for "injury to feelings".
Kirklees Council confirmed the teaching assistant had been dismissed.
A spokesman said a staffing dismissals committee of the school's governing body had held a disciplinary hearing into "the circumstances that resulted in the suspension of a bilingual support worker at the school".
Test case
"As result of the hearing the committee decided to terminate the employment of the employee concerned," he said.
Mrs Azmi's lawyer Nick Whittingham, of the Kirklees Law Centre, said Mrs Azmi was told of her dismissal at a disciplinary hearing on Thursday, and had requested the written reasons behind it.
"Until we get those we can't make any further comment," he said.
In October, a tribunal dismissed her claims of religious discrimination and harassment on religious grounds.
Mrs Azmi had said she was willing to remove her veil in front of children, but not if male colleagues were present.
The dispute was brought as a test case under new religious discrimination regulations, the Employment Equality (Religion or Belief) Regulations 2004.
The married mother-of-one is still considering whether to appeal against the decision to dismiss her religious discrimination claims.
At the time of the tribunal, she criticised government ministers who had intervened in the case, saying it made her "fearful of the consequences for Muslim women in this country who want to work".
Necessary debate
Dewsbury MP Shahid Malik, who had urged to Mrs Azmi to accept the tribunal's decision, said the case was about the education of the children at the school and not about religion.
Speaking after the sacking, he said: "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."
Mrs Azmi's case became a central part of a national debate on multiculturism in Britain.
Prime Minister Tony Blair said the veil row was part of a necessary debate about the way the Muslim community integrated into British society.
The veil was a "mark of separation" which made people of other ethnic backgrounds feel uncomfortable, he added.
His comments came after Leader of the House of Commons Jack Straw, said wearing the full veil - or niqab - made community relations more difficult.
BA uniform review after cross row
British Airways is to review its policy on uniforms in the wake of a row over a worker ordered to stop wearing a cross.
On Monday, Nadia Eweida, 55, from London, lost her appeal against a decision saying she could not wear the cross visibly at the check-in counter.
The airline's chief executive Willie Walsh said it had become clear BA's uniform policy needed to change "in the light of the public debate".
He said BA would consider allowing religious symbols worn as lapel badges.
He said it was unfair that BA had been accused of being anti-Christian.
Ms Eweida said she was effectively forced to take unpaid leave after refusing to hide the cross symbol she wore round her neck when people of other faiths were allowed to wear visible religious symbols such as headscarves.
'Inexplicable ban'
She has been refusing to return to work since the ban and earlier this week lost an appeal against the decision.
After Mr Walsh's announcement of a policy review she said: "If they are going to review the policy and allow Christians their place in the workforce then that is a big relief."
She said she had been "overwhelmed" by the level of support she had received.
The criticism of British Airways has been misplaced and unjustified Willie Walsh, British Airways chief executive
Among those to criticise the airline's policy were the Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, the Rt Rev Richard Chartres, the Bishop of London, and the Leader of the House of Commons, Jack Straw, who said the ban on crosses was "inexplicable".
And on Friday the Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams said: "If BA is really saying or implying that the wearing of a cross in public is a source of offence, then I regard that as deeply offensive."
BA said Ms Eweida had been offered a non-uniformed post where she would be able openly to wear her cross but had refused to take it. The firm has told her to contact managers to arrange a second appeal.
'Proud of diversity'
Mr Walsh said: "The recent debate about our uniform policy has unfairly accused British Airways of being anti-Christian.
"British Airways is proud of its uniform and proud of the diversity of its staff.
"One of the fundamental aims of our uniform policy is to be fair and non-discriminatory.
"The criticism of British Airways has been misplaced and unjustified. I am proud to lead an airline that has a track record on diversity and inclusion which is second to none."
Brendan Gold, national officer of the Transport and General Workers Union, said: "We are pleased that BA has decided to review its uniform policy, a move that vindicates our support for Nadia Eweida's case.
"We trust this will bring closure to the issue and that she can return to work as soon as possible."
Parents halt school mosque trip
Parents have forced a school trip to a mosque to be abandoned because they did not want their children exposed to a religion that was not their own.
A class of 10-year-olds at Atwood Primary, Croydon, south London, were due to tour Croydon Mosque as part of their religious education lessons.
But a number of parents withdrew their support saying their children were too young to learn about other faiths.
The school said as a result the trip was no longer financially viable.
Head teacher Alex Clark said some parents did not want their children to experience a religion that was not their own, others thought the pupils were too young and some preferred them to spend time on other subjects.
It is important that children have a range of knowledge about cultures and religions to develop understanding and respect for each other Head teacher Alex Clark
He added: "We very much regret having to cancel one of our Year 5 class's educational trips to the Croydon Mosque.
"It is important that children have a range of knowledge about cultures and religions to develop understanding and respect for each other."
Mr Clark said: "The withdrawal of a significant minority of pupils unfortunately made continuation of the visit unviable. This was done wholly on financial grounds."
Leaders of Croydon Mosque were featured speaking out against the radicalisation of young Muslims on BBC's Newsnight programme on 14 November.
Media attention
Shuaib Yusaf, a spokesman for the Croydon Mosque & Islamic Centre, said it has hosted a number of school trips in the past.
He went on: "It is therefore regretful that one school has cancelled a prearranged visit in light of the media attention currently focussed upon the mosque.
"Amongst the reasons cited to the mosque is that some parents do not wish their children to visit a mosque at the centre of "radical" activities.
"Croydon Mosque & Islamic Centre is an old established mosque that provides a range of community based services to 18,000 Muslims in the London Borough of Croydon amongst others, and is not engaged in any 'radical' activities.
"This is acknowledged by all concerned and the mosque is liaising with schools and the local education authorities to recommence school visits."
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