Thursday, August 4 2005 10:01 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

London: Amid a wave of race attacks, Dr Zaki Badawi, head of the Muslim College in London and Chairman of the Council of Mosques and Imams, has advised Islamic women to stop wearing the 'hijab' (head scarf).

Badawi, a progressive Muslim leader who has advocated integration between Muslims and British society for decades, said, "A woman wearing the hijab could suffer aggression from irresponsible elements."

"In the present tense situation, with the rise of attacks on Muslims, we advise Muslim women who fear being attacked physically or verbally to remove their hijab so as not to be identified by those hostile to Muslims," Badawi said.

"Therefore, she ought not to wear it. Dress is meant to protect from harm, not to invite it," he said.

There were 269 crimes in three weeks after the July 7, 2005 London bombings, compared with 40 in the same period in 2004.

Most of the hate crimes reported were verbal abuse and minor assaults, but damage to mosques and property with a great emotional impact also occurred, police said.

Badawi said the Koran justified abandoning the hijab, saying it should help Muslim women be identified and not molested, but if it led to harassment, the ruling was it should not be worn.

Met Police Assistant Commissioner Tarique Ghaffur said he had never seen so much anger among young Muslims.

Communities were frustrated by the increased use of stop-and-search and the new shoot-to-kill to protect policy for suicide bombers, he said.