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
Narrow minded Mr. Shetty, in gulf countries somany Hindu girls are working under Arabs/Muslims for the sake of money. Why don't you term them condition to work under Hindus in India.
need job in muslim firm in ramdhan time many hindu womens weariing burka and coming to collect zakat money are you bother about tiz know because need money what a joke ramesh shetty
For your kind information most of all muslim firm many hindu relgious girls working and aslo many bachelore hindu girls working in gulf country tiz is allowed ,what you called for tiz love jihad or love jihd in gulf country shame on you uncultred people....
Rakesh Shetty : people like you are called narrow minded..... Grow up.
i dont understand why people like Rakesh Shetty are so much worried about popularity of Islam.
if they can track who is visiting whom in the locality, I wonder why these goons didnt reach sister Bhavani's house, who died at Janavasati Colony in Puttur taluk’s Vidyapur , and not a single saviour of hindu religion came forward to cremate her.
i wish these goons help their own hindu Koraga families living in shambles in Kulshekar.
And hope the police exhibit same proactiveness to stop moral.policing, drug menace, rapes and control law and order in the district.
looks like police dept is only interested in supporting moral.policing and protecting cows
Non-sence statement given by One Mr. Rakesh Shetty. Why that one sided policy? There are many cases of "Kesari Jihad" by the Saffronists in the recent days. Open your narrow-mindedness before you give such statement.
ಶ್ರೀಯುತ ಶೆಟ್ಟಿಯವರೆ,
ಇಸ್ಲಾಂ ಸೃಷ್ಟಿಕರ್ತನ ಧರ್ಮ. ಈ ವಿಶ್ವವನ್ನು ಸೃಷ್ಟಿಸಿದ ಏಕೈಕ ಜಗದೊಡೆಯನನ್ನು ಆರಾಧಿಸುವುದು ಮಾತ್ರವಾಗಿದೆ ಇಸ್ಲಾಂ ಕಲ್ಫಿಸುವುದು. ಅದಲ್ಲದೆ ತಾವೇ ಸ್ವತಃ ನಿರ್ಮಿಸಿದವುಗಳನ್ನು ಪೂಜಿಸುವ ಗತಿಗೇಡು ಮುಸ್ಲಿಮರಿಗಿಲ್ಲ. ಯಾರಾದರೂ ಹಾಗೆ ಮಾಡಿದರೆ (ಶಿರ್ಕ್ ಮಾಡಿದರೆ) ಧಾರ್ಮಿಕವಾಗಿ ಅವರು ಮುಸ್ಲಿಮರೂ ಅಲ್ಲ. ಇನ್ನು ಬಲತ್ಕಾರದಿಂದ, ಹಣದಾಸೆಯಿಂದ ಯಾರನ್ನಾದರೂ ಹಿಡಿದು ಧರ್ಮವನ್ನು ಅವರ ಮೇಲೆ ಹೇರುವ ಗತಿಗೇಡು ಮುಸ್ಲಿಮರು ಮಾಡಿಲ್ಲ, ಮಾಡುವುದೂ ಇಲ್ಲ. ಈ ಧರ್ಮದ ಸುಂದರ ಆಶಯವನ್ನು ಕಂಡು ಆಕರ್ಷಿತರಾಗಿ ಜನರು ಇಸ್ಲಾಮನ್ನು ಸ್ವೀಕರಿಸುತ್ತಾರೆಯೇ ಹೊರತು, ಮುಸ್ಲಿಮರನ್ನು ಕಂಡಲ್ಲ. ಅಲ್ಲಾಹನು ತಾನು ಉದ್ದೇಶಿಸುವವರನ್ನು ಸನ್ಮಾರ್ಗದಲ್ಲಿ ನಡೆಸುತ್ತಾನೆ. ಆದ್ದರಿಂದ ನೀವು ದಯವಿಟ್ಟು ಖುರ್ ಆನನ್ನು ಕಲಿಯಿರಿ.
ಇಸ್ಲಾಂ ಇಹಲೋಕ ಜೀವನ ಮತ್ತು ಮುಸ್ಲಿಮರ ಜನಸಂಖ್ಯೆಗೆ ಯಾವುದೇ ಪ್ರಾಶಸ್ತ್ಯ ನೀಡುವುದಿಲ್ಲ. ಬದಲಾಗಿ ಪಾರತ್ರಿಕ ಜೀವನದ ವಿಜಯವೇ ಅದರ ಉದ್ದೇಶ. ಅಲ್ಲಿ ವಿಜಯಶಾಲಿಯಾಗಬೇಕಾದರೆ ನಮ್ಮೆಲ್ಲರನ್ನು ಸೃಷ್ಟಿಸಿದ ಆ ಅಲ್ಲಾಹನ್ನು ಮಾತ್ರ ಆರಾಧಿಸಬೇಕು. ಇದರಲ್ಲಿ ವ್ಯರ್ಥವಾಗಿ ತರ್ಕಿಸಿ ಯಾವುದೇ ಫಲವಿಲ್ಲ.
This is a case of Love jihad, Great Job by Bajrang Dal. we dont have any problem if muslims girls visit our houses. but we condemn hindu Girls visiting Muslim houses. Muslims will do Taqiya to convert hindus by hook or crook,
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