A man at the centre of an anti-terrorist hunt in Britain is alleged to have escaped capture by evading surveillance officers after disguising himself as a Muslim woman dressed in a burka.
The revelation is a new twist to the intense debate sparked by former Foreign Secretary and Commons Leader Jack Straw over whether Muslim women in Britain should wear a full veil.
The burka is a head-to-toe garment, which often conceals the entire face, with the wearer seeing through a fabric grille or eye slit, and is suspected by some immigration officers to have been used previously in cases of benefit or identity fraud.
But it is never previously been known to have been used by a man hunted by the police in the UK to evade capture.
The man, who was wanted in connection with a major anti-terrorist investigation, was subsequently arrested by police in Britain after a Europe wide search.
Specific details of his identity, where and how he was held or what he is charged with cannot be revealed for legal reasons.
He is one of more than 90 suspects currently in British prisons awaiting trial on terror charges.
The revelation is a new twist to the intense debate sparked by former Foreign Secretary and Commons Leader Jack Straw over whether Muslim women in Britain should wear a full veil.
The burka is a head-to-toe garment, which often conceals the entire face, with the wearer seeing through a fabric grille or eye slit, and is suspected by some immigration officers to have been used previously in cases of benefit or identity fraud.
But it is never previously been known to have been used by a man hunted by the police in the UK to evade capture.
The man, who was wanted in connection with a major anti-terrorist investigation, was subsequently arrested by police in Britain after a Europe wide search.
Specific details of his identity, where and how he was held or what he is charged with cannot be revealed for legal reasons.
He is one of more than 90 suspects currently in British prisons awaiting trial on terror charges.
is this a muslim women or a ruthless killer?
Islamic extremeists, including suicide bombers fighting British and US troops in Iraq, are known to have dressed in burkas to evade capture or to launch attacks.
Women bombers are also known to have worn full Muslim dress to board planes with explosives strapped under their clothing.
The Muslim Council of Britain has raised fears that Mr Straw's comments may fan the flames of Islamophobia.
Secretary-General Dr Muhammad Abdul Bari said: "There can be no doubt that we are already witnessing an increasingly bigoted anti-Muslim climate being fostered in Britain.
"Recent weeks have witnessed several arson attacks against mosques and assaults on Muslim individuals around the country. Jack Straw's comments will hardly help."
On Friday, a Muslim woman had her head veil snatched by a man as she waited at a bus stop in Liverpool, in what Merseyside police are treating as a 'hate crime'.
The alleged use of a burka by a fugitive to avoid capture will further fuel the furious debate over the veil sparked by Mr Straw.
Shahid Malik, Labour MP for Dewsbury, warned the case was a highly unusal use of Muslim dress.
"If this is true then it is the first case of its kind in Britain and an isolated incident," he said.
"We must not get hysterical. There have been many hundreds of cases where robberies have been committed by men wearing women's stockings on their heads - but no one is talking about banning stockings.
"The important thing is that police and the security service should feel comfortable and confident about stopping anyone they have suspicions about, whatever they are wearing."
BBC newsreader George Alagiah added his voice to the arguments yesterday by suggesting Muslim women may need to get rid of their veils if they want to go into politics.
The presenter and author told an audience at Cheltenham Literature Festival: "We should ask people who wear the veil what they themselves think of the veil.
"We should apply the test of contribution. People can wear the veil but they too need to subject themselves to the test of contribution.
"Are there things I can do and still wear the veil? Could I become an MP or get my message across if I wear the veil?
"If they still want to try they may need to amend the way they appear."
Islamic extremeists, including suicide bombers fighting British and US troops in Iraq, are known to have dressed in burkas to evade capture or to launch attacks.
Women bombers are also known to have worn full Muslim dress to board planes with explosives strapped under their clothing.
The Muslim Council of Britain has raised fears that Mr Straw's comments may fan the flames of Islamophobia.
Secretary-General Dr Muhammad Abdul Bari said: "There can be no doubt that we are already witnessing an increasingly bigoted anti-Muslim climate being fostered in Britain.
"Recent weeks have witnessed several arson attacks against mosques and assaults on Muslim individuals around the country. Jack Straw's comments will hardly help."
On Friday, a Muslim woman had her head veil snatched by a man as she waited at a bus stop in Liverpool, in what Merseyside police are treating as a 'hate crime'.
The alleged use of a burka by a fugitive to avoid capture will further fuel the furious debate over the veil sparked by Mr Straw.
Shahid Malik, Labour MP for Dewsbury, warned the case was a highly unusal use of Muslim dress.
"If this is true then it is the first case of its kind in Britain and an isolated incident," he said.
"We must not get hysterical. There have been many hundreds of cases where robberies have been committed by men wearing women's stockings on their heads - but no one is talking about banning stockings.
"The important thing is that police and the security service should feel comfortable and confident about stopping anyone they have suspicions about, whatever they are wearing."
BBC newsreader George Alagiah added his voice to the arguments yesterday by suggesting Muslim women may need to get rid of their veils if they want to go into politics.
The presenter and author told an audience at Cheltenham Literature Festival: "We should ask people who wear the veil what they themselves think of the veil.
"We should apply the test of contribution. People can wear the veil but they too need to subject themselves to the test of contribution.
"Are there things I can do and still wear the veil? Could I become an MP or get my message across if I wear the veil?
"If they still want to try they may need to amend the way they appear."
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