Proud to be veiled, Muslim and British

Whether the wearing of the hijab imprisons or liberates women may be the subject of debate, but what's undeniable is the fact that it is a uniform. As with all uniforms, wearing one is a sign of belonging, of status and of conformity; it's also scary for people who don't wear the uniform (which is one reason why political uniforms are banned in the UK).

Once Muslim women start to wear the uniform, it's difficult for them to stop wearing it; to do so is to say they feel they don't belong, they don't like their status, and they don't want to conform. It also snubs other women who still wear the uniform, so there is added pressure not to abandon it. If you want them to stop wearing it, you have to offer alternative ways of delivering what the uniform does.

RICHARD A BARTLE
COLCHESTER ESSEX