
DUP councillor questions if burqas should be banned in UK
Ex-UKIP and TUV member Henry Reilly asks on social media if full covering worn by Muslim women 'alien'
A DUP councillor has raised questions over whether the burqa should be banned and if it is 'alien to British culture'.
Henry Reilly, a member of Newry, Mourne and Down Council, raised the matter in the wake of controversy over the issue in Reform UK ranks.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles

The National
14 minutes ago
- The National
John Swinney 'concerned' UK could become part of Middle East conflict
Tensions escalated further over the weekend as the US struck three of Iran's nuclear sites and President Donald Trump floated the idea of 'regime change' in the country following strikes between it and Israel. While Downing Street said on Monday the focus would be on 'diplomacy', a spokesman for Number 10 said preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon was a 'good thing'. Speaking during a visit to a school in the Springburn area of Glasgow on Monday, John Swinney urged the international community to work to find a resolution. READ MORE: LIVE: Palestine Action protest in London as group to be proscribed 'I share the concerns of Scots about the events in Iran over the weekend,' he said. 'To wake up to what we woke up to yesterday morning is very, very frightening and alarming and I don't think any of us should underestimate the significance and the severity of the situation that we face.' He added: 'That's why I have made a strong plea for every resource of the international community to be deployed to de-escalate the situation and to get the world to step back from the brink.' Swinney went on to encourage the UK Government to 'put all of their weight' behind diplomatic efforts to stem the conflict. Asked if he was concerned about British involvement in the conflict, he said: 'There's obviously the potential for this to have very wide-ranging implications and they could involve the United Kingdom. 'So, of course, I'm concerned about that point. 'I think we need to step back, to find a negotiated settlement to the issues that have been raised and to avoid any further escalation, which will simply increase the severity and the significance of the dangers that we all face.'

Western Telegraph
32 minutes ago
- Western Telegraph
Swinney ‘concerned' about UK being drawn into Middle East conflict
Tensions escalated further over the weekend as the US struck three of Iran's nuclear sites and President Donald Trump floated the idea of 'regime change' in the country following strikes between it and Israel. While Downing Street said on Monday the focus would be on 'diplomacy', a spokesman for Number 10 said preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon was a 'good thing'. I have made a strong plea for every resource of the international community to be deployed to de-escalate the situation and to get the world to step back from the brink John Swinney Speaking during a visit to a school in the Springburn area of Glasgow on Monday, John Swinney urged the international community to work to find a resolution. 'I share the concerns of Scots about the events in Iran over the weekend,' he said. 'To wake up to what we woke up to yesterday morning is very, very frightening and alarming and I don't think any of us should underestimate the significance and the severity of the situation that we face.' He added: 'That's why I have made a strong plea for every resource of the international community to be deployed to de-escalate the situation and to get the world to step back from the brink.' Mr Swinney went on to encourage the UK Government to 'put all of their weight' behind diplomatic efforts to stem the conflict. Asked if he was concerned about British involvement in the conflict, he said: 'There's obviously the potential for this to have very wide-ranging implications and they could involve the United Kingdom. 'So of course I'm concerned about that point. 'I think we need to step back, to find a negotiated settlement to the issues that have been raised and to avoid any further escalation, which will simply increase the severity and the significance of the dangers that we all face.'


STV News
34 minutes ago
- STV News
Family of asylum seeker shot after hotel stabbings call for review of police actions
Relatives of an asylum seeker who was shot and killed after he stabbed six people at a hotel have asked for an expert review of police actions that day. Badreddin Abdalla Adam Bosh, 28, attacked his victims at Glasgow city centre's Park Inn on June 26, 2020. A probe into his death heard police were unaware the hotel housed asylum seekers at the time. Officers had attempted to use non-lethal weapons to disarm Mr Bosh during the incident before he was shot and killed. The Sudanese national was one of hundreds of refugees moved from flats to hotels at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic before concerns were raised about the mental health of often vulnerable individuals. Three asylum seekers, two hotel workers, and police officer David Whyte – who had responded to the emergency call – were injured by Mr Bosh during the attack. A second preliminary hearing took place at Glasgow Sheriff Court in preparation for the full inquiry, which will take place at a later date. An FAI is a public examination of the circumstances of a death in the public interest before a Sheriff, which does not apportion blame or fault. Mark Stewart KC, representing Mr Bosh's next of kin, told the hearing that an expert report from an ex-Met police superintendent has been arranged. He said: 'My purpose is not to seek to put forward an alternative version of events but to be clear and thorough and review what happened. 'Also, it is to see whether or not what the previous statements tell us are a correct and accurate version of the tactical options that were available and the various decisions that were taken. 'Once that report is supplied, if there are any difficulties, these will be matters which will be focused. 'The expert has been involved in these kinds of reviews before.' Mr Stewart also confirmed that Mr Bosh was in communication with his brother, which included WhatsApp messages that have been lodged with the inquiry. Shelagh McCall KC, acting for the Scottish Police Federation, later told the hearing: 'The police officers had no knowledge that the hotel housed asylum seekers at the relevant time. 'The first issue is if it was intimated to Police Scotland that there was an opportunity for community policing to engage with staff and residents at the hotel. 'It is my understanding that community policing can address issues before they are escalated. 'It may be a matter to explore that advanced knowledge of who was housed in the hotel would provide some information to those dealing with an incident.' Advocate depute Alan Cameron KC earlier stated to the hearing that work will begin on drafting a joint minute of agreement to reduce the length of the inquiry. A previous hearing had been told that there are at least 83 witnesses due to appear at the official probe, which could take place next year. A number of organisations will be represented at the inquiry including the Scottish Ambulance Service, Glasgow City Council, the Mears Group and the Home Office. A continued preliminary hearing was fixed for September this year by Sheriff Principal Aisha Anwar. She said: 'We will not be fixing a date [for the inquiry] – at the next hearing we may be in a position to identify a date.' Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country