08 February 2018

Judge unreasonable for barring woman from Victorian court because of niqab, Islamic Council says

A judge who barred a woman from wearing traditional Muslim garb in the Victorian Supreme Court was being unreasonable, the Islamic Council of Victoria (ICV) has said.

Justice Christopher Beale told lawyers that the wife of a man charged over terrorism offences could not be in the courtroom while she was wearing a niqab.

"All are welcome," Justice Beale told the court.

"But anybody who comes into the court [I require] for their face to be uncovered."

The lawyers for the accused said his wife was "content" to sit outside the courtroom on this occasion but it may become an issue if she is required to give evidence at a later date. [ABC] Read more