‘Show your face in a public place’ Ukip’s Suzanne Evans backs no-veil law
SUZANNE EVANS has said there is “no room” for Sharia courts in Britain.
Suzanne Evans: It's not fair that women can wear burkas
The Ukip leadership candidate, who will learn on Monday whether she has been successful in her bid to succeed Nigel Farage, has also supported a ban on the veil being worn in public.
Ms Evans previously supported Lisa Duffy in the first Ukip leadership election held earlier this year.
Ms Duffy said if she became Ukip leader she would introduce a “show your face in a public place” policy to ban the face veil on “public transport networks, in public buildings, banks, stores and shopping precincts”.
Asked whether she still supported Ms Duffy’s position for her own campaign, Ms Evans insisted she did.
Suzanne Evans has called for a ban on Sharia courts in the UK
“What she [Duffy] proposed is nobody should be treated in anyway inequitably or preferentially in society,” Ms Evans told express.co.uk.
“I fundamentally agree with that as a basic principle.
“She said if you are in a situation – going into a bank or a shopping mall – where you wouldn’t be allowed to go in wearing a balaclava or a motorcycle helmet you should not be allowed to wear a veil either.
“That makes sense for security reasons.”
Ms Evans, a former deputy chairwoman of Ukip, said the fact the veil was allowed in public was simply not fair.
Ms Evans back Lisa Duffy (pictured) in the previous leadership campaign
They do not abide by the tenants of British law
“It is a principle about equality of treatment,” she added.
On the subject of Sharia courts the 51-year-old said: “There is no room for Sharia courts in Britain.
“They do not abide by the tenants of British law.
“It should be one law for everybody.”
Last month over 100 Muslim women had filed complaints about their treatment under two government inquiries into Sharia law.
One of the probes was ordered by Theresa May back when she served as Home Secretary.
Paul Nuttall, left, is the favourite to succeed Nigel Farage
Shaista Gohir, the chair of Muslim Women’s Network UK, warned there was a danger of the inquires patronising women.
"Everyone wants to listen to Muslim women when highlighting their terrible experiences.
"However when it comes to the solutions, everyone thinks they know what is best for them," she told the BBC.
The Ukip leadership election results are set to be announced on Monday.
North West MEP Paul Nuttall is heavily favoured to defeat Ms Evans and John Rees-Evans.