British Judge Allows Niquab At Arraignment Under Compromise Arrangement

The Guardian reports that in Britain yesterday, a London trial court judge allowed a Muslim woman to plead not guilty in a witness intimidation case while wearing a niqab that covered her face. The judge backed off of his August order requiring her to uncover her face in court, instead accepting a compromise under which a female police officer who saw the defendant's face when her custody photograph was taken now viewed her in a private room with her veil removed. The officer then testified under oath that the correct person was in court. The judge also heard arguments on whether the woman should also be allowed to wear the niqab during her full jury trial.