Harun Nasrullah
Conservative Shadow Justice Secretary Nick Timothy has described the niqab and burqa as a “ball and chain”, claiming that face coverings are harmful to Muslim women and wider society.
Timothy made the comments at a Spectator fringe event during the Conservative Party conference on October 6, according to The Times.
“I hate the niqab and the burqa,” Timothy was quoted as saying. “When I see a woman wearing that, I see a human being with a ball and chain around her ankle.”
He said wearing the coverings was “a deliberate choice to cut women off from society” and claimed the harm extended beyond the women who wear them.
“I think the harm caused by that is not just to the women involved — considerable as that may be — it’s actually harmful to all of us,” he said.
Timothy also said that “most people” were intimidated about speaking out against what he described as expressions of religious extremism.
His comments follow controversy earlier this year when he criticised mass Muslim prayer in Trafalgar Square during Ramadan, describing it as an “act of domination”.
The remarks drew criticism from politicians and Muslim representatives. London Mayor Sadiq Khan described them as a “disgrace” and a “megaphone dog whistle”, while Prime Minister Keir Starmer called on Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch to sack Timothy.
Badenoch subsequently defended Timothy, saying the Conservative Party had “no objection” to people of any religion praying publicly, while arguing that people could criticise how religion was expressed in shared public spaces.
Timothy’s comments come as the Conservative Party is reportedly considering policy options on face coverings, including the possibility of legislation restricting the wearing of the burqa. Timothy indicated that Conservative policy on the issue was being developed.
