Judge asks woman to lift her veil in court

1:48pm Thursday 19th July 2007

A judge asked a woman to lift her full Muslim veil, three weeks after a Manchester magistrate walked out of her previous hearing because her face was covered.

District Judge Diana Baker allowed Zoobia Hussain, aged 32, to give evidence from behind a screen in her trial at Manchester Magistrates' Court on a charge of criminal damage.

Judge Baker said: "I understand the importance to a Muslim woman of being able to wear her veil because that is an important part of her cultural and religious identity.

"But when I make an assessment of people giving evidence I look at their facial expressions and I can only see Mrs Hussain's eyes.

"My view is that when giving evidence it is important for me in my judicial decision-making role to be able to see her face."

She said Hussain could sit behind a screen so that the male prosecutor and clerk could not see her face.

Prosecutor Nicholas Vitti said he accepted the need for special measures, but made clear he was "not happy" he could not see Hussain's face.

Mother-of-five Hussain was found guilty of causing £1,500 of criminal damage to a council house in Longsight after her family was thrown out for rent arrears in January. Graffiti was sprayed on the walls and there were holes in the doors.

The long-term benefit claimant denied she had trashed the property out of spite when she was evicted.

She is to be sentenced at a later date.

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