A judge warned a jury on Wednesday that it was wrong to be prejudiced against anyone because of their expression of religious faith, as a Muslim defendant prepared to go on trial wearing a full face veil.
The judge, Peter Murphy, said Rebekah Dawson, 22, was fully entitled to dress as she chose, and that the jury trying her case for alleged witness intimidation had to put aside any personal feelings they might have on the issue.
“I am sure you will have noticed that the defendant Rebekah Dawson is wearing a full face veil“ it hides her face apart from a narrow slit for the eyes,” he told the jury at Blackfriars crown court, London. “Let me begin by saying that in this country everyone is entitled to express any religious view they wish, or to hold no religious view. Also, we are entitled to express any religious view we may have in any way that we choose ” that includes wearing a form of dress which a person may consider to be appropriate.”
via Judge warns jury of wrongful prejudice over defendant’s Muslim face veil | Law | The Guardian.
