In a development which highlights the diversity in the United Kingdom’s legal system, a 40-year-old Muslim woman has become the first hijab-wearing judge in the country.
Raffia Arshad, a barrister, was appointed a deputy district judge on the Midlands circuit last week after 17-year career in law.
She said her promotion was great news for diversity in the world’s most respected legal system. She hopes to be an inspiration to young Muslims.
Ms Arshad, who grew up in Yorkshire, north England, has wanted to work in law since she was 11.
Ms Arshad said the judicial office was looking to promote diversity, but when they appointed her they did not know that she wore the hijab.
‘It’s definitely bigger than me,” she told Metro newspaper. "I know this is not about me.
"It’s important for all women, not just Muslim women, but it is particularly important for Muslim women."
Ms Arshad, a mother of three, has been practising private law dealing with children, forced marriage, female genital mutilation and other cases involving Islamic law for the past 17 years.
She was the first in her family to go to university and has also written a leading text on Islamic family law.
Although the promotion by the Lord Chief Justice was welcome news for her, Ms Arshad said the happiness from other people sharing the news was “far greater”.
“I’ve had so many emails from people, men and women," she said.
"It’s the ones from women that stand out, saying that they wear a hijab and thought they wouldn’t even be able to become a barrister, let alone a judge."
Ms Arshad is regularly the subject of discrimination in the courtroom because of her choice to wear the hijab.
She is sometimes mistaken for a court worker or a client.
Ms Arshad said that recently she was asked by an usher whether she was a client, an interpreter, and even if she were on work experience.
“I have nothing against the usher who said that but it reflects that as a society, even for somebody who works in the courts, there is still this prejudicial view that professionals at the top end don’t look like me,” she said.
A family member once advised her to not wear a hijab at an interview for a scholarship at the Inns of Court School of Law in 2001, warning that it would affect her chances of landing the role.
“I decided that I was going to wear my headscarf because for me it’s so important to accept the person for who they are," Ms Arshad said.
"And if I had to become a different person to pursue my profession, it’s not something I wanted.”
The joint heads of St Mary’s Family Law Chambers said they were “delighted” to hear the news of her appointment.
“Raffia has led the way for Muslim women to succeed in the law and at the bar, and has worked tirelessly to promote equality and diversity in the profession,” Vickie Hodges and Judy Claxton said.
“It is an appointment richly deserved and entirely on merit, and all at St Mary’s are proud of her and wish her every success.”
Comments
my dear hindu brother and sister dont blive in RSS they are not fighting for hindus they are fight to bring back the bristish rule bcoz they love thm bcoz they get everything wht they frm thm so they want thm back thz the reason they celebrate birth anniversry of killer our father of our nation tippu was curel for british and also for the people who support the british thtz y RSS says tht tippu is curel
India need another brave like Tipu sultan to eradicate RSS from the country.
RSS quotation itself proves that world has no matching personality like TIPPU for Nationalism and defence of country. For British - Tippu, Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev, Ashfakullah Khan, Ghandiji, S.C. Bose... the list is endless.... all were Terrorists. It was Timid Savarkar and Hindutva fascists joined hands with British, worked against mother India and responsible for the massacre of thousands of Freedom Fighters of India. Till today these anti-national forces neither recognised Secular India, nor constitution, tricolour flag, national anthem.. rather they use all these to destroy Secular India. Founder of RSS openly said NOT TO FIGHT AGAINST BRITISH and advocated his goons to fight against Muslims. This is the history of RSS & British
Why siddana and his chelas want to celebrate this coward tippu jayanti.......hope siddana want to make karanataka islamic state by apeasing minority community.....!
This is what RSS is , RSS didn't want independence coz they had a close with British , British even killed Bhagat Singh , Raj guru and sukhdev as traitor but we Indians still treat them as freedom fighters , I think RSS treat them as cruel ????
Shame on u bloody RSS people , you guys have no rights to be in india h better go to ur British bhais.
Dear Cheddies (Now Pantees),
who brought Silk from Persia to India....how many farmers are living beacuse of silk in India...just think it....
I think Cheddis were hand to hand with British against whome nationalist were fighting during independence
Britishers know that because of tipu. India got independence.
To British, Mahatma Gandhi was a traitor & an enimy !
Every patriot was an enimy !
Nathuram Godse was a murderer ! Why should anyone need a lesson by those who celebrate Mahatma's killers jayanti??
Now RSS and British are Bhai Bhai (Brother's).
We got Independent on 1947 But for RSS Chaddis they lost their Freedom on 1947.Wa Re Wa Chaddis.
What if the Tipu was a Hindu. The tune of RSS would be different.
Apna cheddy nahi Sambhal sake. Abhi pant per uthargaye.
All Indians fully understand that the RSS was actively in support of the British, and did ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to fight for India's independence from colonial rule. Its a known fact that USA has already enlisted RSS a terror group and has to be banned.
If he is cruel for british then of curse is hero for Indians.
If in front of RSS, Mahatma Gandhi is criminal, who else is good fro them.
RSS needs high level medical treatment. This is true not joke.
Whoever discussing any subject where RSS is involved, it is waste of time and finally it is stupidity to talk to them.
Just see what they did to Mahatma Gandhi and how they are glorifying his assassin Naturam Godse.
Unfortunately it is our unluck, still in India the majority of the people are their supporters therefore they were able to keep their puppet BJP in centre.
God, give them wisdom.
Who is British - Grand fathers of rss - they jointly involved in the cruel murder of our father of nation - GANDHI - they are the supporters for anti nationals and hindu terroristssss
British people considered all freedom fighters as cruel. Do you think all freedom fighters are cruel. in fact You guys are cruel. killed mahatma gandhi and other human beings in riots. RSS is following the foot step of Zionist, Nazism. they are deceiving people.
Oh yeah... Your savarkar / glovalkare was following British rules and they were feared of British rulers,. But Shahid Tippu was real tiger / hero of india / world. so british was too worried. Common man bloody RSS now wana prove based on British comments. hehehh.. shameless people. Being a tippu not a Savarkar
Yes ... This is the real face of the cheddis which was hidden for long time..the cheddis will follow their chachas (British) who want to rule over the people just like they used to rule over india and take all the resources and enjoy their life by making others to enslave them...
The hindus who think RSS is fighting for hindus is just a deception... U will surely see this in the near future...
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