[Gayle]

I read the story in the Telegraph and knew full well that there would be the typical 'outraged' response the day after. I suspect that the problem here lies with the media and not with the majority of muslims.

A polite question asked in a polite manner is neither offensive or obligatory. If, as Jack Straw says, he asks whether they will remove the veil, the woman then has the option to remove it or refuse to remove it. As long as Jack Straw doesn't refuse to speak to the woman if she won't remove it, I can not see what the problem is.

I can imagine, that he thought long and hard about raising the issue publicly as he knew it would provoke this response from the media. I'm afraid that it is a sign of the times that this would be swooped on by the press and made a huge fuss about it. It is not simple things like a polite question that is causing the divide between the cultures, it is the outrageous response that the media make of it all.