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| Version 8 | Version 9 |
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| Muslim woman 'abused' over dress | Muslim woman 'abused' over dress |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A Muslim woman was asked by a Christian hotelier if she was a terrorist and a murderer because she was wearing Islamic dress, a court has been told. | A Muslim woman was asked by a Christian hotelier if she was a terrorist and a murderer because she was wearing Islamic dress, a court has been told. |
| Ericka Tazi told Liverpool magistrates she faced a tirade of abuse from Benjamin Vogelenzang and his wife Sharon, at their hotel on Merseyside. | Ericka Tazi told Liverpool magistrates she faced a tirade of abuse from Benjamin Vogelenzang and his wife Sharon, at their hotel on Merseyside. |
| She said it was because she was wearing a hijab head covering and gown. | She said it was because she was wearing a hijab head covering and gown. |
| Mr and Mrs Vogelenzang deny using threatening, abusive or insulting words which were religiously aggravated. | Mr and Mrs Vogelenzang deny using threatening, abusive or insulting words which were religiously aggravated. |
| Members of campaign group The Christian Institute demonstrated in support of the couple outside the court. | Members of campaign group The Christian Institute demonstrated in support of the couple outside the court. |
| Mrs Tazi, who converted to Islam 18 months ago, spent a month at The Bounty House Hotel on Church Avenue, Aintree, Liverpool, while attending a course at Aintree Hospital. | Mrs Tazi, who converted to Islam 18 months ago, spent a month at The Bounty House Hotel on Church Avenue, Aintree, Liverpool, while attending a course at Aintree Hospital. |
| 'Form of bondage' | |
| Prosecutor Anya Horwood told the court Mr Vogelenzang, 53, called the prophet Mohammed a "warlord" and likened him to Saddam Hussein and Hitler. | Prosecutor Anya Horwood told the court Mr Vogelenzang, 53, called the prophet Mohammed a "warlord" and likened him to Saddam Hussein and Hitler. |
| And his 54-year-old wife told Mrs Tazi her Islamic dress represented "oppression" and was a form of "bondage", the court heard. | And his 54-year-old wife told Mrs Tazi her Islamic dress represented "oppression" and was a form of "bondage", the court heard. |
| Mrs Tazi had worn European dress during her four-week stay, but the row flared after she came down on her last day in traditional Islamic dress. | Mrs Tazi had worn European dress during her four-week stay, but the row flared after she came down on her last day in traditional Islamic dress. |
| She said Mr Vogelenzang asked her "Why are you wearing those clothes?" and began laughing at her, the prosecutor told the court. | She said Mr Vogelenzang asked her "Why are you wearing those clothes?" and began laughing at her, the prosecutor told the court. |
| Ms Horwood said the hotelier then began to discuss his Christian faith but became angry - at which point his wife joined in. | Ms Horwood said the hotelier then began to discuss his Christian faith but became angry - at which point his wife joined in. |
| Mrs Tazi walked away but was followed by Mr Vogelenzang, who was acting like "a whirling dervish", repeatedly asking her if she was a "terrorist". | Mrs Tazi walked away but was followed by Mr Vogelenzang, who was acting like "a whirling dervish", repeatedly asking her if she was a "terrorist". |
| Giving evidence, Mrs Tazi told the bench that dressing in her hijab seemed to "trigger something" in the hotelier. | Giving evidence, Mrs Tazi told the bench that dressing in her hijab seemed to "trigger something" in the hotelier. |
| The 60-year-old, who suffers from fibromyalgia and lives with chronic pain, said: "He just couldn't accept the way I was dressed. | The 60-year-old, who suffers from fibromyalgia and lives with chronic pain, said: "He just couldn't accept the way I was dressed. |
| "He asked me if I was a murderer, if I was a terrorist. I'm a 60-year-old disabled woman, I couldn't understand where it was coming from, it was shocking to me." | "He asked me if I was a murderer, if I was a terrorist. I'm a 60-year-old disabled woman, I couldn't understand where it was coming from, it was shocking to me." |
| Mrs Tazi said Mr Vogelenzang followed her into the dining room "flailing" his arms and "jumping up and down". | Mrs Tazi said Mr Vogelenzang followed her into the dining room "flailing" his arms and "jumping up and down". |
| She added: "Sharon came running in, she was shouting 'you started this with your dress' and she was pointing in my face and I was frightened at this stage. I was absolutely traumatised by it all." | She added: "Sharon came running in, she was shouting 'you started this with your dress' and she was pointing in my face and I was frightened at this stage. I was absolutely traumatised by it all." |
| Later that night Mrs Tazi contacted Merseyside Police. When detectives questioned the couple they claimed they had been sharing their "faith views". | Later that night Mrs Tazi contacted Merseyside Police. When detectives questioned the couple they claimed they had been sharing their "faith views". |
| Beatles fan | |
| Mrs Tazi told Hugh Tomlinson QC, for the defence, that she was not trying to make a statement by wearing the hijab and denied having robust arguments about religion with other guests. | Mrs Tazi told Hugh Tomlinson QC, for the defence, that she was not trying to make a statement by wearing the hijab and denied having robust arguments about religion with other guests. |
| She told him she tried "many religions" before converting to Islam when she married. | She told him she tried "many religions" before converting to Islam when she married. |
| Mrs Tazi said: "My journey has been a long, long journey, it was a very difficult decision to wear these clothes... I'm a normal Warrington girl who liked the Beatles." | Mrs Tazi said: "My journey has been a long, long journey, it was a very difficult decision to wear these clothes... I'm a normal Warrington girl who liked the Beatles." |
| Guests at the hotel told the court that Mrs Tazi was left distraught by the row. | Guests at the hotel told the court that Mrs Tazi was left distraught by the row. |
| Pauline Tait, 52, a committed Christian, described it as "a very upsetting and volatile exchange". | Pauline Tait, 52, a committed Christian, described it as "a very upsetting and volatile exchange". |
| Another guest, Shirley Tait, said she was in her bedroom when she heard Mr Vogelenzang shouting the words "Nazi" and "warlord". | Another guest, Shirley Tait, said she was in her bedroom when she heard Mr Vogelenzang shouting the words "Nazi" and "warlord". |
| The case was adjourned until Wednesday. | The case was adjourned until Wednesday. |
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| Mr and Mrs Vogelenzang deny using threatening, abusive or insulting words which were religiously aggravated |