CAIR Seeks Clarification on Hijab in Michigan Courts

WASHINGTON - A prominent national Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization
today called for clarification of a new administrative rule adopted by
Michigan's Supreme Court that, if broadly interpreted, might allow
judges to demand that witnesses remove religious head coverings during
testimony in their courtrooms.

SEE: State Court: Judges Can Dictate Witnesses' Attire

The Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR)
said that forced removal of religiously-mandated attire such as an
Islamic headscarf, or hijab, would violate the constitutional right to
religious freedom and would contradict President Obama's recent
statement in support of the right to wear hijab.

In his address to the Muslim world earlier this month in Cairo, President Obama stated: "[F]reedom
in America is indivisible from the freedom to practice one's
religion...That is why the US government has gone to court to protect the
right of women and girls to wear the hijab, and to punish those who
would deny it."

"Michigan residents of all faiths need clarification as to whether
they will be forced to remove their religious attire in order to appear
in a state court," said Dawud Walid, executive director of CAIR's Michigan chapter.

He said the newly-adopted rule, if interpreted broadly, could also
be used against Jews, Sikhs, Christians, and members of other faiths
who wear religious head coverings.

The new rule, which was adopted in response to a case involving a Muslim woman, states: "The
court shall exercise reasonable control over the appearance of parties
and witnesses so as to (1) ensure that the demeanor of such persons may
be observed and assessed by the fact-finder, and (2) to ensure the
accurate identification of such persons."

Two Michigan Supreme Court judges opposed the new rule, saying there should be an exception for religious attire.

SEE: Civil Rights Commission Opposes Proposed Court Rule on Courtroom Attire

Walid added that CAIR has consistently defended the right of Muslim
women to wear headscarves in the workplace, in schools, in courtrooms,
and as customers in public venues such as banks. CAIR chapters in
Oklahoma and Minnesota recently helped block proposed legislation that
would have prohibited wearing hijab in driver's license photographs.

SEE: Okla. Muslim Takes Driver's License Photo with Hijab

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