18 April 2015

Top judge's veil views clarified

The UK's most senior judge has clarified his position on whether Muslim women should be allowed to wear a full-face veil while giving evidence.

In a lecture last week, Lord Neuberger said that judges must have "an understanding of different cultural and social habits".

But a spokesman for the Supreme Court said he had not backed the idea of court witnesses being able to wear full-face veils.

.... A spokesman for the Supreme Court said today: "Following various media reports based on a lecture he gave last week, Lord Neuberger would like to emphasise that he did not say that Muslim women should be allowed to wear a full-face veil while giving evidence in court.

"His lecture was aimed at encouraging judges to develop a greater understanding of the perspectives of those less experienced in the criminal justice system, especially when faced with having to give evidence or face cross-examination. [Press Association] Read more