Islamic Face Masks: Banned in Michigan Courtrooms

by Phyllis Chesler
Pajamas Media
June 29, 2009

http://www.islamist-watch.org/1961/islamic-face-masks-banned-in-michigan-courtrooms

Excerpt:

In 2006, in a small claims matter in Michigan, a Muslim woman, Ginnah Muhammed, refused to take off her face mask (niqab) while she testfied. Judge Paul Paruk dismissed her case. Muhammed sued, the ACLU backed her. They argued for a "religious exception" to courtroom attire. Although Muhammed's small claim case was against a car rental agency, here is what Michael Steinberg, legal director of the ACLU of Michigan stated:

"The Michigan Supreme Court should not slam the door of justice on a category of women just because of their religious belief…Under the proposed rule, women who are sexually assaulted do not have their day in court if they wear a veil mandated by their religion."

Sexual assault was not at issue nor was the victim afraid that testifying might lead to her death. Leave it to the ACLU to always get it wrong.

Finally, earlier this month, on June 17, 2009, the Michigan Supreme Court, in a 5-2 vote, ruled that a Judge had the power to "require witnesses to remove head or facial covering as (the witness) was testifying." A Judge has the right to see a witness's "facial expressions" to determine her "truthfulness" while she testifies.

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