Native Iraqi Muslim Sues Michigan Court over Headscarf

A native Iraqi Muslim woman is suing a Michigan Judge because he asked her to remove her headscarf. Recently a Michigan Supreme Court ruling gave judges the power to dictate what witnesses can and cannot wear while testifying .

Muslim woman told to remove scarf sues Mich. judge
By BEN LEUBSDORF

SOUTHFIELD, Mich. — A Muslim woman on Wednesday sued a Michigan judge for telling her to remove her headscarf in his courtroom, claiming he violated her First Amendment right to practice her religion.

Raneen Albaghdady, 32, says she felt humiliated when Wayne County Circuit Judge William Callahan ordered her to remove her hijab at a June 16 hearing in his Detroit courtroom. The headscarf, which does not cover the face, is worn by many Muslims in the U.S.

"This is the country and the land of freedom, and we're not supposed to be treated like this for the scarf," the Dearborn Heights woman said at a news conference Wednesday at the Southfield headquarters of the Council on American-Islamic Relation's Michigan chapter, which joined in the federal lawsuit against Callahan and Wayne County.

A courtroom video of the hearing shows Albaghdady appearing before Callahan wearing a loose headscarf.

"No hats allowed in the courtroom," Callahan told her.

"This one?" she asked, touching her scarf. "Ah, OK. It doesn't matter."

Albaghdady pushed back her headscarf for the rest of the hearing on her request to change her name. Callahan denied the request on technical grounds.

"Judge Callahan and the court have the greatest respect for spiritual practices and all religious preferences," Callahan said in a statement released by the court. "Had he been informed that the head covering had some religious significance, the judge would have permitted Ms. Albaghdady to continue wearing it in court."

Albaghdady, a native of Iraq, said Wednesday she was intimidated by Callahan and feared she would be arrested if she refused to remove her hijab.

"I come from a country where you can't say no to a judge in a courtroom," she said.
Some Muslims believe Islamic law requires women to wear a headscarf, veil or burqa in the presence of a man who is not a close relative.

The lawsuit asks a federal judge to order judges in Wayne County to allow the wearing of the headscarf in court.

Wayne County, which includes Detroit, is home to one of the nation's largest Muslim populations.

In another situation involving veils, the Michigan Supreme Court voted June 17 to give judges wide authority over the appearance of witnesses. The rule was adopted after a Muslim woman refused to remove her niqab, or face veil, while testifying in a 2006 small-claims case. Hamtramck District Judge Paul Paruk dismissed Ginnnah Muhammad's case as a result.

Albaghdady appeared before Callahan the day before the state Supreme Court approved the rule. Her lawsuit does not challenge it or address the issue of face veils, said her attorney, Nabih Ayad.

"That's for a later case," he said.

Link to Article

Michigan Supreme Court Kicks Islam in the you Know What!

For the second time in just three months the Michigan court system has put Islam under its boot heel. The first was when the courts said that Islamic divorcees are not legal in Michigan.

Muslims Reaction to Court Ruling
Jun 19, 2009
Reporter: Heather Biance

A supreme court ruling in Michigan now gives judges the authority over how witnesses dress in court, an issue that came about after a Muslim woman refused to remove her veil while testifying.

The judge argued he needed to see her face to judge her truthfulness, but local Muslims say the coverings are not just a religious sign, they are a religious obligation for women.

"If a nun would have done it, people wouldn't make remarks on that on why she had to remove. If nun can wear it. Same thing. They're supposed to where, Muslim women, they're supposed to wear it," says practicing Muslim Behzad Shah who lives in Tallahassee.

Shah says he does agree, if it's the law, people should obey.

Currently Florida and Georgia do not have this court ruling.

For more information about the Michigan Court Ruling, go HERE.

Link to Article

Muslim Woman Arrested in US Courtroom

Hat tip on the pic and update to TexCat.

As a Muslim woman from Georgia named Lisa Valentine, also known by her Islamic name, Miedah, tried to enter a courtroom, a bailiff told her that she would have to remove her hijab if she wanted to come in. Instead of complying she cursed the bailiff. As a result she was sentenced to 10 days in jail for contempt of court. Apparently it is OK when they tell us how to live, but no one can ask anything of them. Now CAIR has gotten in the middle of it all and has asked the Department of Justice to get involved and investigate the judge, as the judge has barred other Islamic women from his courtroom in the past for the same reason.

It is fascinating to me that CAIR even has the nerve to show their faces in front of the Justice Department after they have recently been hit with racketeering charges. Back in 2006 CAIR pursued a similar case in Tacoma and got the court to reverse its decision about Muslim women wearing headscarves in the state's courtrooms. Presiding Judge Jack Emery now allows all religious headgear into the Tacoma courts. Obviously in the past Jews had no problem following this rule. This is just another attempt by Muslims to impose Islam on our country.