Veil-wearing lawyer in UK removed from case

Shabnam Mughal, 27, was to have represented a client at an immigration tribunal. Instead, her firm, The Law Partnership, replaced her.

November 14, 2006

London: A Muslim lawyer who refused to remove her veil while representing a client in court was removed from the case by her firm.

Shabnam Mughal, 27, was to have represented a client at an immigration tribunal. Instead, her firm, The Law Partnership, replaced her.

"In the interests of the client, it was decided to send a partner," practice manager Javid Hussain said. Shabnam last week represented a man who had been denied a visitor's permit for a nephew.

Judge George Glossop asked Shabnam to remove her veil, saying he couldn't hear her.

Shabnam refused, and the case was adjourned.