A young Muslim woman in a burka was told by the judge to take off her face veil, as she took to the dock to enter her plea, because someone could impersonate her.
Judge Peter Murphy at Blackfriars Crown Court said the principle of open justice overrode the woman’s right to her religious beliefs, but the woman, 21, from Hackney, refused to remove the covering in front of men in the court room, Court News UK reported.
The woman is accused of allegedly intimidating a witness, involved in a separate case, in June this year.
Judge Murphy told the woman, who had only her eyes uncovered, that she must remove the veil, saying : "It is necessary for this court to be satisfied that they can recognise the defendant. [COMMENTS WERE NOT POSSIBLE ON THIS ARTICLE!!!] [The Huffington Post UK] Read more
