US woman who refused to remove veil granted new hearing

HAMTRAMCK, United States (AFP) - A Michigan woman who lost a small-claims case because she refused to remove her veil while testifying has been granted a new hearing, court officials said.

Ginnnah Muhammad, 42, will appear before the same judge who told her last October that she had to remove her niqab -- a veil with only a small opening at the eyes -- so he could gauge whether she was telling the truth.

When Muhammad refused, Judge Paul Paruk ordered her to pay a rental car company for damage to a vehicle she rented. Muhammad appealed his ruling.

It is not clear whether Paruk will allow Muhammad to testify without removing her veil at the February 21 hearing. Paruk does not discuss cases before he hears them, court recorder and secretary Connie Sacco said Tuesday.

Muhammad said she plans to wear her veil again. "I'm hoping that the judge ... listens to my case and judges the case on its merits, not on how I look," she said.

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She should be charged with contempt of Court if she does not remove the veil.