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Should witnesses be allowed to wear a niqab while testifying?

Categories: Canada

The Supreme Court of Canada is hearing arguments Thursday in the case of a woman who wants to testify in court while wearing a niqab, a veil-like cloth that covers all of her face, except her eyes.

 A Muslim woman wearing a niqab attends a protest against islamophobia in Bern on Oct. 29. (Michael Buholzer/Reuters)The woman - known as N.S. - requested to wear her niqab based on her Muslim beliefs. She is the complainant in a sexual assault case against two Ontario men.

Lawyers for the defendants say they should be able to see her facial expressions of cross-examination.

N.S. says her right to wear the niqab is protected by the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

Should witnesses be allowed to wear a niqab while testifying? Let us know what you think.



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Tags: law, religion