The Dhaka Times Desk Everyone is shocked to see the actions of a court judge. A lawyer was kicked out of the court for refusing to take off the hijab!
This incident happened in Italy. A Muslim lawyer was kicked out of a regional courtroom in Italy for refusing to remove the hijab. Asme Belfakir, the apprentice lawyer of Moroccan origin, expressed his disappointment in this incident.
Judge Giancarlo Mozzarelli ordered Muslim lawyer Asme Belfakir to remove her hijab during a hearing at a regional administrative court in Bologna, Italy. Otherwise he was ordered to leave the court room.
In an interview given to Andolu Agency last Monday, Asme Belfakir said, 'I also entered the courtroom with all the other lawyers involved in that case. Suddenly the judge started saying, 'Can you open?' That judge didn't mention hijab and didn't even look at me. I thought he asked someone else to open his or their coat. I couldn't imagine he was talking to me. Then I looked at him and realized it. I was surprised and asked him, are you talking about my hijab?'
He added: 'As soon as I had finished, he said: 'Yes, if you want to stay in this court, you must remove it compulsorily.'
"I told him back, 'I'm not going to open it,'" Asme Belfakir said. I'm going out.'
He also said that as he was opening the door to leave, the judge told everyone present, 'Yes, this has been done to respect our culture and tradition.'
The Muslim lawyer said, 'It really hurt me to hear the judge's comments about culture and tradition in this context. As an apprentice I went there only to learn; How the law should be enforced. I don't know how reasonable it is to insult me because of my religion.'
Belfakir added, 'I have heard many things about that judge; His minutes and his personal thoughts. I am sure she will never ask anyone to remove her hijab again, because no one is insulting her culture by wearing hijab.'
Belfakir said the judge should know why she is wearing the hijab, that it is not affecting the judicial hearing or her skills as a trainee lawyer.
"Because it is not affecting others negatively," said the Muslim lawyer. So in this case the law should protect people and their full freedom of religion.'
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