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Veil row lawyer is taken off case | Veil row lawyer is taken off case |
(about 2 hours later) | |
A legal adviser at the centre of a row over wearing veils in court has been taken off the case she was working on. | |
A tribunal in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffs, was adjourned last week after Shabnam Mughal refused to remove her veil when asked to do so by Judge George Glossop. | A tribunal in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffs, was adjourned last week after Shabnam Mughal refused to remove her veil when asked to do so by Judge George Glossop. |
It was rescheduled after an interim ruling allowed solicitors and legal advisers to wear a veil in court. | |
But Ms Mughal, a Muslim, was replaced by a male colleague in the client's interests, her law firm said. | |
The decision was made solely in the interests of our client Abdul Khan, solicitor | |
Speaking outside the rescheduled hearing centre, solicitor Abdul Khan, from Coventry-based The Law Partnership, said the decision was not a reflection on Ms Mughal nor issues surrounding her use of a Muslim veil. | |
"It is not an issue of us backing down. We represent clients and our duty is to make sure that their interests are at the forefront of our mind. | |
"The decision was made solely in the interests of our client." | |
Mr Khan, who appeared before the immigration tribunal instead of Ms Mughal, said his colleague would continue to wear her veil during hearings. | |
Last week Judge Glossop was thought to have asked for the full-face veil to be removed because he could not hear Ms Mughal properly. | Last week Judge Glossop was thought to have asked for the full-face veil to be removed because he could not hear Ms Mughal properly. |
The interim ruling said a veil can be worn in court unless it interferes with the "interests of justice". | The interim ruling said a veil can be worn in court unless it interferes with the "interests of justice". |