20 March 2012

Muslim juror removed from jury after refusing to take off veil

.... Massoud Shadjareh, chairman of the Islamic Human Rights Commission, told the Daily Mail the decision by the judge was "unacceptable".

"I really can’t understand why facial expressions could have any impact on the judge, the judgment or anyone else in a trial. It has no relevance," he said.

"I’m speechless that you can exclude someone on the basis of the way that they dress.

"It’s very worrying that a judge is being prejudiced against women wearing a veil."

According to guidance from the Judicial Studies Board's equality advisory committee in 2007, Muslim women should be allowed to serve while wearing the veil as long as it did not interfere with the administration of justice. [telegraph.co.uk] Read more