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.”
However, the case is not completely solved as the 21-year-old girl, who was found with her boyfriend house at Naimarmoola near Kasargod on Friday, told the police that she would not return to her parents' house.
Comments
Best Decision?? how do u know ?? How can you tell that??
Happy Married Life
hahaha.. sorry yaaro odihodlu antha burnol and itch guard haakolllodakke naavenu jihadi gala ... we are now enjoying surgical strikes on mini pakistanis ... kushi ge yenne hodeyodralle busy weekend nalli ... saw indian channels , in almost all channels ...Jihadis and burqas ninthonkondu modi na baiyyodu nodidre gottagate ,burnol and itch guard yelli jaasthi agide antha gottu ...
neo converts are used by ISIS to wage Jihad , namge worry irodu ashte ... its two way process kanree ... even last week i saw 2 muslim gals leaving piece ful religion towards hinduism and christianity ...
abbu beary samadhana kanappa ... nin kashta artha agatte ... rashtradrohi kelasa nodi ... police and NIA involve age agatte ...yevano jayanthi anthavne kanrappo ... jayanthi annodu hoge haaksi kondavrige kanappa ... swalpanadru general knowledge beku .. madrasa product antha gottagi biduthe ...hhahaha...adakke bere 6 liikings , it proves madrasa education yaav level ge antha ...
Naren Kotian
You have mistaken Sanathan Dharma. We are the true followers of Sanathan Dharma which prohibits Idol Worship.
We recite Gayathri mantra 17 times in our prayer. Rigveda 3-62-10
It is the first chapter of the Quran.
It has to be logically from One Supreme Creator who has no Image. Creator who is unlike His creations. Understand the Truth. Study your scriptures learn sanskrit come back to the Truth.
Because Truth is going to succeed and falsehood is bound to perish
She has come back to the Sanatan Dharma
Happy married life for couple. Burnol+ itch guard to naren Singapore.
Best decision from her side, congrats
Naren bhai ... u have mistaken !!!! The picture what cd published here is her old picture when she was a piece , in sha allah we can see a peacefull picture of her in the future with the hijab
MADHUVE JAYANTI FOR BOTH...AND BURNOOL JAYANTI FOR CHADDIS.
If Muslim girl elopes with Hindu boy, police intervene to unite them. Here, the case is vice versa and the same police are separating the couple. What a tragedy.
her t shirts speaks alot she left peaceful religion( sanatan dharma) and joined piece piece religion :) hahaha ... not a loss,its two way process ... but NIA must track these guys becoz converts are used in ISIS .We know 21 neo converts joined ISIS from kasragod . there is chance of waging jihad against own country
This love, staying with a girl before marrieage, and dont know the islam , Quran and hadith. Simply enjoying in duniya is not the behaviour of true muslim. They are spoiling their life here and here after even took birth in muslim family and have a name of muslim. and also they are spoiling the name of our muslim community. Our prophet Muhammad(PBUH) Said, a Muslim sweeping lady is better than other non muslim girls to marry.
made for each other.
let them lead their life. good or bad finally they are the one who suffer.
giving birth , giving education , love and everything by the parents and finally the girl is saying that i don't want parents and the boy who poses like Salman Khan is her choice.
she will repent one day.
at the moment let them both enjoy....
Wher is my comment?why you do not posted my comments?is there any mistake is there? please CD dont show double standeard becouse im one of the reguler reader..
This is the result of advanced tech. Parents has to check their all mobile no.s which has fake names i.e real boys name as girl's name (dummy) and incoming calls blocked by lovers. Only user will unlock during parents absence.
parents are not much educated enough to the effect of Facebook and whatsapp. If you want to provide phone to your children give them simple phone where they can not download illicit apps
May Allah (SWT) guide the couple with hidaayah!!! We should not blame them. Islam is not dependable. Enough preacher for Islam.
Congratulations Girl for the best decision.
Police dept to call both both parents with them and discuss face face and try to solve with in their limit and both elders satiso actiso action.
Interference of any dirty criminal groups, anti Indian groups or any communal mind political leader or their organized goonda group department must take strict action and send them behind bar at least for one year period for igniting communal tension.
Trust this will spoil all trouble makers intention and their political benefit gains.
irrespective of religion all middle class citizens are suffering with present red currency exchange procedures. In between communal mind politicians creating problem and planning communal tension is not faith.
God will never accept thought.
Jai Hind!
Well she should not be blamed it is bcoz of unproper teaching if she know teachings it would not had happened
Congratulations to the couple, leave in peace, take care of each other.
we respect all the religions, but above all it's love. loving each other is more important than anything else. They have won the love, may god bless you, LOVE IS GOD.
Cute Couples, happy married life to both.
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