It is all a matter of freedom of choice

Except when it is not. I am now talking once again about the debate on whether the burqua should or should not be banned and the soi-disant liberals and libertarians who swell up with indignation and demand that we do not impose our views on what people should or should not wear. The niquab is just a piece of clothing and women should be able to wear it if they so desire.

Ah, but do they so desire? And does anyone even bother to find out whether they so desire? What are we to make of this little item in the Daily Telegraph:

The Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) said that not covering the face is a "shortcoming" and suggested that any Muslims who advocate being uncovered could be guilty of rejecting Islam.

In a statement published on its website the MCB, warns: "We advise all Muslims to exercise extreme caution on this issue, since denying any part of Islam may lead to disbelief.

"Not practising something enjoined by Allah and his Messenger… is a shortcoming. Denying it is much more serious."

The statement quotes from the Koran: "It is not for a believer, man or woman, that they should have any option in their decision when Allah and his Messenger have decreed a matter."

What they don't say is that there is that the Koran does not, in fact, require full veiling of women. And before anybody points out to me the date of that statement let me add that it is, as far as anybody knows, still the accepted policy of the MCB.