Cherie 'lacks awareness of Islamic culture'

Mona Al Merri, Chairperson of the Board of Directors at the Dubai Women's Establishment, said that although she did not believe the face veil to be religiously obligatory, she said it was a personal choice for women, which is not restrictive. "A woman's face is not forbidden to be shown. The niqab was imposed because of traditions and extremist fatwas," she said.

Statements made by Cherie Blair about the face veil were made out of lack of awareness of Islamic culture but responsibility to protect Islam's image rests on Muslims, said prominent Emirati women.
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Cherie Blair: my doubts about the Muslim veil - Telegraph.co.uk (2007-11-02)
Cherie Blair has questioned whether the full-face veil restricted Muslim women from being "people in their own right". The wife of the former Prime Minister said full veils, such as the niqab or burqa, could prevent a woman from expressing her personality.