However well-intentioned he may be, Canadian judge, Norris Weisman of Ontario is way off base in forcing a Muslim woman to remove her face veil in open court. At the very least, he should have explored possible alternatives which would have allowed the unnamed woman to testify in a way that both allowed the accused to confront his accuser while respecting her religious needs.
Clearly, there are ways to accommodate both sets of needs and just as clearly the woman in question is open to such accommodation. She managed to get herself photographed for her driver’s license by having the picture taken by a woman clerk in a more private setting. What’s most disturbing about this case is the judge’s seeming lack of interest in finding an equally good alternative in court.
If no alternative could be found, I would not oppose forcing this woman to live with the same laws which guide all Canadian court proceedings. But if alternatives exist and were not explored, then this was not about one law for all. It was about making some citizens feel that they must choose between their faith and their nation – a bad corner in which to needlessly place any member of the community.