British college revokes rule banning veil

A college in Britain has revoked its eight-year-old ban which had barred women students from wearing a veil.

The revocation came in the wake of a planned mass demonstration against "Islamophobia" and an online petition signed by 9,000 people. The ban had been in place at Birmingham Metropolitan College for eight years without a protest, Daily Mail reported.

But an anonymous prospective student complained to her local paper, saying she was being discriminated against. When the story broke it sparked claims of racism and even rumours that the college was planning to ban prayer on its premises.

On Thursday, the college "modified" its ruling against veils, hoodies and hats, which had been brought in to ensure students were always "easily identifiable". The college, the third largest in Britain, with 44,000 students, insisted the policy was designed to protect students.

Tory MP Philip Hollobone, who is championing a law to ban face coverings in public, earlier this week said he was sorry the college had "caved in".

However, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg admitted Thursday he was "uneasy" about the ban and believed the bar had to be set "very high" to justify any prohibition on wearing a veil.