A Muslim woman can stand trial wearing a full-face veil but must remove it to give evidence, a judge has ruled. Judge Peter Murphy made the ruling at Blackfriars Crown Court in London where the woman is due to stand trial accused of intimidating a witness. The 22-year-old woman, from Hackney, has refused to remove her niqab and reveal her face in front of any man. The woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, pleaded not guilty at an earlier hearing. The judge’s ruling means that if the woman, who started wearing a veil in May 2012, refuses to comply during her trial she could be jailed for contempt of court. The only part of a niqab-wearer’s face that is visible is a narrow section across the eyes. The judge said he would offer the woman a screen to shield her from public view while giving evidence but that she had to be seen by him, the jury and lawyers. At other times during the trial the woman will be allowed to keep her face covered while sitting in the dock.
Posted on: Tue, 17 Sep 2013 19:05:43 +0000
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