I agree with Bishop Tim (First Person, July 17 2010) that a ban on religious symbols as such is not the way forward, but I am disturbed by his article for reasons of accuracy and interpretation.

Nurse Shirley Chaplain was offered the compromise of pinning the crucifix securely to her uniform instead of wearing it hanging loose on a chain around her neck. For the court to approve of this is surely not an example of "wooden-headed bureaucratic silliness".

With regard to the banning of the niqab in France, our tradition of freedom from unnecessary interference in our personal lives, to which secularists and humanists have contributed significantly, is resistant to a blanket ban, though there is concern over covering the face in certain situations, and there would be concern over coercion. The same considered approach applies to religious symbols.

The attack on the women wearing a niqab was a criminal assault of concern to right-minded people in all decent societies.

Allan Hayes, president, Leicester Secular Society.