Why are we talking about the niqab yet again? Once more this non-issue has hit the headlines. It is obvious that in light of the difficulties our schools are facing in tackling bullying, drug abuse, alarming rates of truancy, gang culture, knife and even gun crimes, and teacher abuse; the niqab certainly does not merit the Department for Education's attention nor subsequent front page headlines in the news.

A handful of girls wanting to observe the niqab should not be an issue and it should certainly not attract so much media coverage. All that this achieves is to provide further fodder for the "it's those bloomin' Muslims wanting more special treatment" camp. In over 30 years, there has only been one case where a Muslim girl took her school to court for denying her the right to wear the niqab. Hardly a landmark occurrence for a variety of reasons.

Firstly, the number of women who wear the niqab is negligible and there are even fewer girls wearing it in schools. Most of those who do observe it attend private Muslim educational establishments where this is not a problem. The few that face an obstacle with their school, one would hope, would be able to come to an amicable resolution where both parties are happy.

Secondly, the niqab issue has stirred passionate debate within the Muslim community and the diverging views are tremendous. At the February Doha Debates in Qatar, hosted by Tim Sebastian, the house voted in favour of the statement that the niqab is a barrier to integration. Most of the audience were Muslim.

However, many of the women who wear the niqab in Britain (which in itself is a small minority) believe that it is a religious obligation or alternatively, they view it as a very personal and spiritual action.

These differing views are not reflected when cases such as the Buckinghamshire schoolgirl's lawsuit is portrayed as being a "Muslim" issue, as most Muslims, regardless of their views on the niqab, would oppose such inflexibility in attitude. But once again, hardly front page news material.

The fact is that issues surrounding Muslim women's dress are often sensationalised, and get disproportionate press coverage. The reason for this is anybody's guess. What does it matter to the nation at large if a 15-year-old girl is battling it out in court so that she can wear a jilbab to school, or if a 12-year-old girl insists on the niqab?

They are isolated incidences and should be kept within that very remit - between the pupils and their school. The media fanfare that surrounded these cases put everyone on a back footing; most importantly the young Muslim schoolgirls who may now fear victimisation by their schools if they do not wholly conform, and by the schools who fear that if they give an inch, they will be expected to shift a mile. This is not facilitating the equality, progression and justice that is supposed to be exemplified by the school environment.

There is little doubt that the politicisation of the niqab has led to the DfES involving itself in this way, and it is not helpful. Most media outlets, whether television, radio or the newspapers, have portrayed an aggressive encouragement of a blanket ban by the DfSE. No doubt the DfES will subsequently receive a hostile response from some young Muslim girls which will further feed the perception that Muslims are intransigent. However, if one reads beyond the headlines, which many won't, the guidelines produced are similar to that of the widely accepted NUT uniform guidelines, with the added clause ultimately allowing a ban on the niqab if the head teachers deem it necessary. While this is the crucial point, it is hoped that most schools will continue a practical, respectful and reasonable approach to religious dress.

The NUT uniform guidelines simply state: "Within the context of teaching and learning, issues ranging from ensuring equal access to the curriculum to the relationship between pupils and between pupils and teachers might be examined. Schools may wish, for example, to consider whether a pupil's request to be allowed to wear the niqab, a face cover, would inhibit facial communication as part of teaching and learning." This allows schools to consider the issue on a case by case basis. Such consideration, in reality is likely to be very few and very far between. However, this position alienates no one and is reasonable in every way.

The impact of the most recent circus surrounding the niqab will empower the Islamaphobes and force Muslims to stop debating the issue of the niqab internally, and unite against a perceived attack on their religious freedom. As a result, the natural progression of the niqab debate among Muslims may have once again been hampered.

This article first appeared on Comment is Free.