- Imam leaders have said Muslims can show their face before a judge in court
- Muslims believe their is no religious reason why others shouldn’t stand for judge
- The leaders say standing for a judge is a sign of respect ‘reflected’ in Islam
Australian Muslims should not refuse to stand in court and should take off burkas to give evidence, Islamic leaders say.
Senior Muslims said there was no legal reason followers should not respect judges and show their faces, according to The Daily Telegraph.
The Australian National Imams Council suggested there was no religious reason why Muslim women should not cover uncover their faces in Australian courts – and that doing so would not breach Sharia law.
Australian Muslims have been told there is no legal reason why they should refuse to stand before a judge a year after Moutia Elzahed (pictured) was charged for refusing to stand
The Australian National Imams Council suggested there was no religious reason why Muslim women should not cover uncover their faces in Australian courts as it’s a sign of respect
‘Standing up for the magistrate or judge is a sign of respect to the court,’ the Explanatory Note on the Judicial Process and Participation of Muslims said.
‘This sign of respect is also reflected in the teaching of Islam.’
Using a woman’s face for identifiable purposes is needed in court and the imams said it was ‘not contrary to sharia law’ for a Muslim woman to uncover her face, according to the publication.
The statements come after Muslim wife of a convicted terrorist, Moutia Elzahed, was charged for refusing to stand before a court.
District Court Judge Audrey Balla refused to let Ms Elzahed testify unless she showed her face and was later ordered to pay $250,000 in legal costs.
Judge Balla ruled she couldn’t assess Ms Elzahed’s credibility as a witness without seeing her face, who wore a niqab, covering her entire body except her eyes.
‘Standing up for the magistrate or judge is a sign of respect to the court,’ the Explanatory Note on the Judicial Process and Participation of Muslims said
Ms Elzahed (pictured) was the first person charged under the new disrespectful behaviour laws, which came into place in September 2016
While Judge Balla offered Ms Elzahed to give evidence remotely or to have a closed court, she declined.
Ms Elzahed was the first person charged under the new disrespectful behaviour laws, which came into place in September 2016.
Daily Mail Australia contacted The Australian National Imams Council for comment.