Toronto court rules woman must remove niqab to testify

Judge says veil would obscure ability to assess woman’s demeanour

24/Apr/2013

Source: CBC News

An Ontario judge ruled today that a woman accusing two family members of molesting her as a child must remove her face veil during testimony.

An Ontario judge ruled today that a woman accusing two family members of molesting her as a child must remove her face veil during testimony. (Mohamed Abd El Ghany/Reuters)

An Ontario judge has ruled a woman must remove her niqab to testify in a Toronto sexual assault case.

Justice Norris Weisman announced his decision after applying a new testset out by the Supreme Court of Canada dealing with witnesses wearing a veil. The woman at the centre of the case is known only as N.S.

“I conclude that to permit N.S. to testify at the preliminary inquiry with her face obscured by the niqab will impair defence counsels’ ability to assess her demeanour, as well as the [judge’s] ability to assess her credibility,” Weisman said.

The woman has been fighting for six years for the right to wear her niqab during the trial of her uncle and cousin, who are accused of sexually assaulting her when she was a child in the 1980s.

Weisman had first ruled in 2008 that N.S. must remove her niqab during testimony. That decision was appealed all the way up to Supreme Court.

The test set out by Canada’s top court in December includes four issues a judge must consider, including: the potential witness’s depth of religious belief, and whether the veil could lessen the fairness of the trial.

The preliminary hearing for the two relatives accused of sexually abusing the woman is scheduled to begin next week, but her lawyer said the ruling on the niqab will be appealed.

About to turn 75, Judge Weisman is set to retire on May 1.

Link: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/story/2013/04/24/toronto-supreme-court-niqab-face-veil.html


Oh, CANADA! When did you abandon your right of free expression to the Muslim infiltrators?

Source: By BareNakedIslam • Posted in Islamization of the West

Anti-Islam protesters

BLOGWRATH It was only two weeks ago when the Supreme Court of Canada declared the criticism of homosexuality to be a hate crime. It seems that in Torontom, Islam is also under the same high protection. Today, at a protest somebody was arrested for mocking Islam.

As I wrote earlier, a protest event was scheduled for March 20 at the offices of the Liberal Party of Ontario. It was caused by the fact that the Minister of Labour of our ruling party, Yasir Naqvi, endorsed an Islamic book, which (in accordance with the Koran) recommended wife beating as a tool for solving family problems. Despite the public outrage, the Liberals chose to ignore the issue and turn a blind eye on Muslim misogyny.

The protest attracted a tiny group of participants carrying signs like:

“Beat wife only for honour & discipline, Holy Koran 4:34”

“Those that deny Islam will be killed, Holy Koran 33:16”

“Expose jihad with free speech or die”

Mock Imam giving mock sermon

Mock Imam giving mock sermon

However, what they lacked in numbers, they made up for with their creativity. Eric Brazau, who was one of the organizers, was dressed like an imam and accompanied by a woman in a full Muslim niqab.

Using a microphone, he gave a mock Muslim sermon, assisted by the veiled woman. He was “praising” Canada as a place, where you can beat your wife with impunity. Reading from sheets of paper, he also counted all the benefits you would get here if you are a religious fanatic. It was a satirical performance, which still focused the attention on the flaws of Islam.

In the beginning the people didn’t pay much attention. Then two police women stopped by and a police van for transporting people under arrest parked in the side street. Many of the people who were passing by found the event amusing – laughing and stopping to take pictures. Then some Muslims started to argue with the protestors, although everything was kept peaceful.

At a certain point, the police decided that the mockery of Islam is getting dangerous and sprang into action. Even more officers arrived and Eric Brazau, along with the other organizer, Ron Banerjee, were led to the police vehicles in the side street.

After the customary processing, Brazau was handcuffed and led away in the van. After some questioning, Banerjee was released. Although the police measures against a peaceful protest were outrageous, they didn’t surprise me. Now every special interest group is beyond reproach regardless of how despicable their positions or actions are.

toronto-protest-against-islamic-misogyny-5

But truth is truth, no matter what the Supreme Court of Canada says, Islam is a barbaric religion, because it openly promotes violence against women and deprives them from their rights. Of course, the police can arrest me for saying that, but that is not going to make Islam more likable or acceptable.

And we also have a double standard applied here. There is a similar type of protest going on in front of the Israeli Consulate every Friday. A tiny group of lefties, Muslims and self-hating Jews stands there handing out flyers and holding signs. They are also peaceful, but the materials they give away are virulently anti-Israeli and anti-Jewish. And yet I have never seen police talking to them; none of them has ever been arrested.

It looks like the critics of Islam are lesser people who can be on the receiving end of the police wrath for no apparent reason. Welcome to the new Toronto, where the Canadian values mean nothing and their defence becomes a dangerous business.