Tuesday, November 07, 2006

Trial halted over lawyer's veil


AN immigration tribunal was halted yesterday after a lawyer twice refused a judge’s request to remove her veil.
Shabnam Mughal was dressed from head to foot in black with a full-face veil leaving just her eyes visible.
Miss Mughal was acting for Sikh businessman Jagdev Singh in his appeal against the Home Office’s refusal to grant his nephew permission to visit the UK.

She was asked to remove the veil by tribunal chairman George Glossop during the hearing in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffs.
She declined and the case was adjourned to the afternoon. When it reconvened the judge had to ask Miss Mughal — who is in her twenties — to repeat herself after asking how she spelt her name.
He continued: "I am not very happy that you are appearing in a veil. Would you kindly remove it to assist with communications?
"It will allow me to see your face and I cannot hear you as well as I would like."
She replied: "Sir, we have been through this issue." Miss Mughal later announced: "Sir, I am taking my leave."
The lawyer came back into the courtroom as Judge Glossop spoke to Mr Singh. He asked: "Do you wish to carry on?"
She retorted: "No, I just want to listen to what is being said."
The judge continued: "If you remove your veil, which happens in other cases, we can proceed, otherwise I am going to have consultations with the President of the Asylum and Immigration Tribunal. Will you remove it?"
Miss Mughal countered: "You are clearly aware of my position on the grounds of my religious beliefs. I won’t."
Sir Henry Hodge, head of the Asylum and Immigration Tribunals, will rule on the next move.

1 comment:

Miss Chris said...

Ship her off to any Muslim country! And quick!