Judge bars Muslim over headscarf | Hawkes Bay News | Local News in Hawkes Bay

A Hastings Muslim woman is fuming after a Hawke's Bay judge barred her from a Hastings courtroom because she was wearing a headscarf.

Yasmeen Ali, said yesterday morning she had gone to the Hastings District Court to support her brother, also a Muslim, who was being sentenced.

When she first entered the courtroom she was asked to take off her Hijab or headscarf by a court security officer but refused, stating she had to wear one as she was a Muslim.

She was allowed to enter and sat briefly in the public gallery before the morning break when she sat outside for 15 minutes.

But as she attempted to re-enter, a court security guard blocked her path back into the courtroom.

The officer told her she had to remove her headscarf.

She pointed to a sign on the courtroom door and asked, ``It says there that you can't wear a hat, hoody but where does it say no headscarf?''

Ms Ali then asked to see a court official and was taken to Support Services manager Evan Gould, complaining she had been discriminated against.

``He said,'Oh there is not much I can do sorry','' and gave her a pamphlet on judicial decisions.

A court security officer then approached Mr Gould and told him she could not enter as Judge Geoff Rea had said she was not allowed.

Ms Ali said she will lodge a complaint with the Human Rights Commission.

``It is disgusting behaviour and I should not be treated like this and I do not think any other Muslim woman should be treated like this,'' Ms Ali said.

She said it was important for her to be there when her brother was sentenced because not only was he family but a fellow Muslim.

A Ministry of Justice spokeswoman confirmed Ms Ali had been barred by Judge Rea from entering the courtroom.

``The presiding judge has jurisdiction over proceedings in the courtroom. The ministry does not comment on judicial decisions,'' she said.

Her brother, Carlos Manuel Brooking, 22, was sitting in the public gallery waiting to appear for sentence on a charge of common assault.

He was asked by the Judge to remove his ``hat''. Brooking removed the headress but was reluctant to remove the smaller garment underneath. He then walked out of court and was taken into custody.

Later in the dock he apologised saying he had recently become a Muslim. . On the assault charge he was sentenced to 125 hours community work.