<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<rss version="2.0"
	xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/"
	xmlns:wfw="http://wellformedweb.org/CommentAPI/"
	xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/"
	xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom"
	xmlns:sy="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/syndication/"
	xmlns:slash="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/slash/"
	>

<channel>
	<title>Nova Scotia Scott &#187; Trinidad and Tobago</title>
	<atom:link href="http://www.novascotiascott.com/tag/trinidad-and-tobago/feed/" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" />
	<link>http://www.novascotiascott.com</link>
	<description></description>
	<lastBuildDate>Sun, 04 Apr 2010 16:55:19 +0000</lastBuildDate>
	<language>en</language>
	<sy:updatePeriod>hourly</sy:updatePeriod>
	<sy:updateFrequency>1</sy:updateFrequency>
	<generator>http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.4</generator>
		<item>
		<title>Should jurors be allowed to wear burqas?</title>
		<link>http://www.novascotiascott.com/2008/11/21/should-jurors-be-allowed-to-wear-burqas/</link>
		<comments>http://www.novascotiascott.com/2008/11/21/should-jurors-be-allowed-to-wear-burqas/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 21 Nov 2008 20:05:31 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Scott Gilbreath</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Islam]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Law Crime and Legal Issues]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Non-Christian Religions]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Islamic teaching]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Trinidad and Tobago]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.novascotiascott.com/?p=1433</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[A judge in Trinidad and Tobago has to decide whether a person wearing a burqa should be accepted as a juror.  According to a report in Caribbean Net News, Justice Joan Charles heard submissions from lawyers who argued that nothing in the Jury Act disqualifies potential jurors who wear such garb. The issue became a [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>A judge in Trinidad and Tobago has to decide whether a person wearing a burqa should be accepted as a juror.  According to a report in Caribbean Net News, Justice Joan Charles heard submissions from lawyers who argued that <a href="http://www.caribbeannetnews.com/article.php?news_id=12368" target="_blank">nothing in the Jury Act disqualifies</a> potential jurors who wear such garb.</p>
<blockquote><p>The issue became a burning one when a Muslim juror came to court wearing a burkah, covered from head to toe in a black robe. The juror’s entire head and face were covered except for a slit in the area of her eyes.<br />
[…]<br />
The lawyers contended, &#8220;The mere fact that a potential juror wears a burkah or hijab is not a basis of itself to be excluded from sitting.&#8221;</p></blockquote>
<p><a title="Niqab, Burqa, Hijab" rel="lightbox[pics1433]" href="http://www.novascotiascott.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/niqab-burqa-hijab.jpg"><img class="attachment wp-att-1434" style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer" src="http://www.novascotiascott.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/niqab-burqa-hijab.thumbnail.jpg" alt="Niqab, Burqa, Hijab" width="250" height="133" /></a>The reference to the hijab is a red herring, for a hijab does not cover the face. (See graphic at right.)</p>
<blockquote><p>&#8220;Based on the prevailing law, the mere fact that a juror is of a particular race, or has a particular religious belief cannot be a challenge for cause by the prosecution or the defence,” the lawyers argued.</p></blockquote>
<p>Neither race nor religion is relevant here.  Islam is not a race, and Islam <a href="http://www.novascotiascott.com/2008/10/25/syrian-woman-tells-men-cover-yourselves-up/" target="_blank">does not require all Muslim women </a>to wear a burqa.</p>
<p>The question the judge should be pondering is: Are people wearing masks allowed to serve as jurors?</p>
]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://www.novascotiascott.com/2008/11/21/should-jurors-be-allowed-to-wear-burqas/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>1</slash:comments>
		</item>
	</channel>
</rss>

