UK NEWS

MAGISTRATE PUNISHED IN VEIL ROW

Ian Murray walked out because Ms Hussain was wearing a niqab, like the one shown

Tuesday January 8,2008

By Jack Teague for express.co.uk

Comment Speech Bubble Have your say(33)

A MAGISTRATE who refused to deal with a Muslim woman when she turned up at court wearing a full-face veil was today reprimanded.

Ian Murray stormed out when vandal Zoobia Hussain, 32, appeared before the bench at Manchester Magistrates' Court in June last year.

Jobless Ms Hussain, who lives on benefits and was subsequently found guilty of criminal damage, made a formal complaint and an investigation was launched by local magistrates and passed to the Office of Judicial Complaints. Mr Murray has not worked as a magistrate since.

The decision to reprimand him today was rubber-stamped by the Lord Chancellor, Jack Straw, and the Lord Chief Justice, Lord Phillips.

The mother-of-five was wearing a niqab, a veil covering her entire face apart from her eyes, when she appeared at the court accused of wrecking her council house with graffiti after being evicted for not paying rent.

The jobless mother-of-five was wearing a niqab, a veil covering her entire face

Housing officers found graffiti sprayed on the walls and holes in the doors.

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

At first Mr Murray didn't give a reason for his sudden exit, but later said that he felt the way she was dressed raised identity issues.

Hussain's lawyer, Judith Hawkins, said her client was 'shocked and distressed' by Murray's 'insensitive and unacceptable' treatment.

Ms Hawkins told the bench her client was a practising Muslim who covered herself in public places where men were present as part of her religion.

Today the Office of Judicial Complaints revealed that along with the reprimand Mr Murray has been ordered to receive further training.

The Lord Chief Justice has also directed that Mr Murray should receive further training and guidance to ensure that the appropriate judicial guidelines and procedures are applied properly at all times in the future.

Hussain¹s case was later dealt with by a female district judge - who asked her to lift her veil, though the defendant was allowed to give evidence from behind a screen so men in the court could not see her.

She was convicted of criminal damage after causing £1,500 of damage to a council house when her family was thrown out. She was given an electronic tag and ordered to pay £500 compensation at the hearing last July.

THE MADNESS CONTINUES.

10.01.08, 12:37am

It's extremely disturubing, hardly a day passes without incidence of the utter madness that is insiduously creeping into every aspect of our society. while I don't know the gentleman in question, as a magistrate he is obviously community spirited individual. It really does beggar belief that it is he who is being castigated. Clearly the defendant was using the wearing of the veil as a statement of confrontation with authority. Political and Social Lunancy.
Incidentally, there has been much newsreel footage from Pakistan recently, and interestingly not a veil in sight by the ladies of that country.

• Posted by: AncientMariner • Report Comment

MAGISTRATE PUNISHED IN VEIL ROW

09.01.08, 5:41pm

does no one pass these comments to mp's or do mp's not bother to read important issues what their constituents report about.
the magistrate was someone with balls in authority who put the uk system first. if a white english person went to court in lets say a maggie thatcher mask, would he be allowed to wear it at the trial, i dont think so. so wheres the difference. this is england if these people dont want to to live the english way of life, go some where else. dont go to germany or holland as these countries no longer put up with your hatred of their cultures. that muslim could have gone into that court as a wanted terrorist and blown the place up all because of a religious statement. this is the way to sharia law by letting them get away with their defiant stance against the english way of life.
and of course long time benefit claimant in very good health apart from her attitude, wheres the push to get her into full time employment - none - get the english disabled people into work so they can keep her on long time benefit, this country is the biggest sh.t hole in the world being mugged by all these immigrants, illegal immigrants, failed asylum seekers and asylum seekers. i wish i could win some money and leave this god forsaken sh.t hole

• Posted by: ledzep • Report Comment

VEIL ROW

09.01.08, 4:48pm

As an Ex Pat. born in London I am not surprised at events like this unfolding in Britain.Your political leaders have sold you out.If you haven't been completely brainwashed by the PC Brigade and your Liberal media, then It is time to stop complaining and vote BNP.What are you afraid of? being called racist and intolerant? I think that card has been over played.

• Posted by: bitro11 • Report Comment

STOP USING THE LANGUAGE OF THE ENEMY.

09.01.08, 1:49pm

Stop using the language of the ENEMY.

Stop using the phrase "politically correct" - you have been brainwashed.

It is NOT PC, it is PI: "Politically INcorrect", or PB: "Political Bulls**t", or PS: "Political Stupidty", or PW: "Politically Wrong", or PP: "Political Propaganda*. Do not ever again use the term PC.

• Posted by: The_Boss • Report Comment

ISLAMIC UK

09.01.08, 12:05pm

every body knows that the uk is turning in to an islamic state and the law has been designed to protect muslims by labours pc brigade ,they have taken this country for granted and they cant be touched.just like travellers who flout the law and all the new migrants who abuse the system and get away with it .crime has increased ,and the welfare state has nearly collapsed,and what do labour do ,spend millions political bull s*** properganda and tell us we have never had it so good ,as they lie and cheat the taxpayer out of billions to pay these social scroungers,the country our grandfathers fought so bravely for has gone there is nothing we can do ,we have become the dustbin of europe ,i wonder how germany would have reacted if this woman had turned up in court wearing a full face veil ,or any of the other european countrys,they would not tollerate it .

• Posted by: crazyhorse • Report Comment

MAGISTRATE PUNISHED IN VEIL ROW

09.01.08, 11:43am

who's bloody country is this, and who can you see behind a veil,

The Magistrate was right to ask her to remove it and anyone who says different is an arse. She knew this would cause confrontation all the MUSLIMS KNOW they have the PC BRIGADE ON THEIR SIDE.

Who is on OUR SIDE, it's our Country could you see them bending over backwords for us.

Remember the teddy bear teacher. get real. The Magistrate should get an apology and the PC BRIGADE KICKED OUT

• Posted by: pete61 • Report Comment