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| Muslim veil 'allowed in courts' | Muslim veil 'allowed in courts' |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Muslim women will be allowed to wear a veil in court under new guidelines issued following a dispute last year. | Muslim women will be allowed to wear a veil in court under new guidelines issued following a dispute last year. |
| The Judicial Studies Board's Equal Treatment Advisory Committee examined whether women should be allowed to wear the full facial covering, the niqab. | The Judicial Studies Board's Equal Treatment Advisory Committee examined whether women should be allowed to wear the full facial covering, the niqab. |
| Decisions should be made on each case and veils should not interfere with the administration of justice, it found. | Decisions should be made on each case and veils should not interfere with the administration of justice, it found. |
| It follows the adjournment of a case in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffs, after a legal advisor refused to remove her veil. | It follows the adjournment of a case in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffs, after a legal advisor refused to remove her veil. |
| Judge George Glossop said he was having difficulty hearing legal executive Shabnam Mughal at the immigration court in November. | Judge George Glossop said he was having difficulty hearing legal executive Shabnam Mughal at the immigration court in November. |
| We respect the right to wear the niqab as part of religious beliefs, although the interests of justice remain paramount Mrs Justice Cox, Committee chairwoman | We respect the right to wear the niqab as part of religious beliefs, although the interests of justice remain paramount Mrs Justice Cox, Committee chairwoman |
| The guidelines say forcing a woman to choose between her religious identity and taking part in a court case could have a "significant impact on that woman's sense of dignity" and could serve to "exclude and marginalise" her. | |
| Committee chairwoman Mrs Justice Cox said: "We respect the right for Muslim women to choose to wear the niqab as part of their religious beliefs, although the interests of justice remain paramount." | Committee chairwoman Mrs Justice Cox said: "We respect the right for Muslim women to choose to wear the niqab as part of their religious beliefs, although the interests of justice remain paramount." |
| She said a judge may consider taking action to allow a fair hearing for women wearing a niqab and others in proceedings. | She said a judge may consider taking action to allow a fair hearing for women wearing a niqab and others in proceedings. |
| The guidelines say if the wearer is a victim it should not be "automatically assumed" that the niqab would create a problem. | The guidelines say if the wearer is a victim it should not be "automatically assumed" that the niqab would create a problem. |
| "Nor should it ever be assumed without good reason that it is inappropriate for a woman to give evidence in court wearing the full veil." | "Nor should it ever be assumed without good reason that it is inappropriate for a woman to give evidence in court wearing the full veil." |
| Any request to remove a veil should be considered carefully and be "thoughtful and sensitive" and the courtroom could be cleared of those not involved in the case for her proceed. | Any request to remove a veil should be considered carefully and be "thoughtful and sensitive" and the courtroom could be cleared of those not involved in the case for her proceed. |
| Judges should assume female Muslim lawyers are entitled to wear the veil, the guidelines say. | Judges should assume female Muslim lawyers are entitled to wear the veil, the guidelines say. |
| A judge may consider excusing a juror if a challenge is made by one of the parties, providing the objection is genuine. | A judge may consider excusing a juror if a challenge is made by one of the parties, providing the objection is genuine. |