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Head Covering Controversy Crosses Pond

The United Kingdom has gained much publicity recently due to the opinions of members of Parliament and local schools that Muslim women cease from wearing the full-bodied ?niqab?. While only a relative minority of Muslim women ascribe to the school of Islam that calls for such coverings, tensions between Muslims and non-Muslims in Britain have been high since last year?s July 7 transit bombings.

Many Britons are concerned that Muslims are not doing enough to integrate into the country, and single out the niqab as an example. And across the Pond in Detroit ? home to America?s largest concentration of Muslims ? a woman who converted to Islam at the age of ten, with a small claims court case, is now facing a similar situation after a judge asked her to remove her niqab covering or face the dismissal of her case.

The judge stated that he needed to be able to see her face ? completely covered for but the eyes by a scarf and veil ? in order to discern her truthfulness. The judge, saying ?I felt I was trying to accommodate her as best I could,? offered to let the woman wear her niqab at all times except when testifying. ?My job in the courtroom is to make a determination as to the veracity of somebody`s claim. As part of that you need to identify the witness and you need to look at the witness and watch how they testify.?