No Veiled Christmas on Channel 4

Sat, Dec 16, 2006 at 4:03:05 pm PST

The veiled woman who was scheduled to deliver the British Channel 4’s “alternative” to the Queen’s Christmas speech has backed out. (Hat tip: LGF readers.)

A muslim woman who was due to deliver Channel 4’s alternative Christmas message wearing a full veil backed out yesterday after criticism from inside and outside her community.

Earlier this month, Khadija Ravat agreed to front the six-minute slot that is broadcast as the Queen delivers her own thoughts on Christmas Day. She said she wanted to argue that women should have the right to cover their faces if they choose.

Yesterday, however, after talks with the producers, the part-time primary school teacher from Leicester told Channel 4 that she could not go through with the project.

In a statement, she said that it was the unexpected publicity around her decision that made her change her mind.

But a source close to the programme makers said one of the reasons was that she had been pressurised by senior members of the community who felt it was not her place to talk about Islam. It has also been said that she had received threatening letters from non-Muslims accusing her of trying to upstage the Queen.