The Private Members Bill proposed by Philip Hollobone MP that would ban Muslim women from wearing the veil in public failed to get through the Parliamentary procedure last week following objection from MPs.

The Bill which would result in a flagrant denial of the right to religious and cultural freedoms, will be put back before parliament in late 2011. Proposing MP Philip Hollobone has said the Bill “lives to fight another day’’ so ongoing opposition will be essential over the next year.

In July this year, Hollobone faced opposition for saying he would refuse to meet a veiled constituent. He was warned by lawyers for the human rights organisation Liberty, that the Equality Act obliges him to avoid such discrimination, who wrote to him saying they would be happy to represent any of his constituents he refused to meet because they were veiled.

Across Europe, a number of governments have scapegoated Muslim communities by introducing bans on religious dress. This will be one of the themes of the Speak out against racism and Islamophobia conference, on Saturday 11 December.