Excerpt:
Serious doubts have emerged over assault claims made by the Perth man whose fraud trial has sparked a national debate over the nikab.
The debate is over whether a Muslim woman should be forced to take off her nikab while giving evidence against him.
Despite Anwar Sayed's barrister Mark Trowell telling the West Australian District Court yesterday morning his client had been "brutally stabbed in the chest and face" just minutes before and may not be alive for the trial in October, the accused's son played down the alleged attack by describing his father's condition as "very good". Police said they had found a small scratch on Mr Sayed's stomach, and no evidence of an assault.
As Prime Minister Julia Gillard said it would be impossible for a jury to determine the truth of evidence if they could not see a witness's face, Muslim leader Ameer Ali said both the burka and nikab belonged in another era.