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
No need to point thier members, they all are the wings fo desh drohi RSS. In Karnataka all will epxerinece their
communal and hate speeches only for vote bank. They might think by the name of cunning religion and caste polcy they will succeed to devide our Great country. In INDIA normal citizens will never accept RSS groups policy to accept their upper caste and lower caste Hindu policy and targeting other religion.
Rest of the Nations are living peacefully with all religion why can't we .
India is the only country in the World fight against dirty british invader with Non Voilance. For that we all to salute the great man Mahthma Gandhi. RSS criminals never supported or they parcitipated during nation freedom strugle with dirty britishers. Now they are looking to devide our Nation but never, hence we all have to stand together ; be unite to save our NATION form these evils. Then no time very shorlty their organization and their criminal institutions will be vanished from all corners of NDIA.
Jai Hind! Jai Karnataka !
These disgraceful caste based un secular Muslim appeasing Sid Ra Miya of Conning-ress, is equating Bajrang Dal & RSS with some of the parties (A--i Na---al) which it sponsors, RSS has proved for many years that it is a party doing many social services, this cheap fellows will be in power for barely another 4 months
CM has problem in a mental stablity ot he is drunk should we call for ban for Congress Muslim party who looks for their votes
Sid RA Miya, Conning-ress, & Parakasha Rai/Raj are already Hob Nobbing with PFI, SDPI, & many similar organizations directly & clandestinely
@Mangalurean. Very few sane, Hindus, have such guts. Others all are chameleons..and turn color whenever get a better chance.
I wish, he was not in Congress, which helped RSS grow into such a giant organization and now a school of teaching hatred to innocent common Hindus.
Salute. Many common Hindus feel the same way, unless they are in politics.
So the President, Vise-President and the Prime minister are terrorists? India is a terrorist country now then. This idiot will be shown his place in the next election.
BIG sallute to Siddaramaih!!
HE the CM of Karnataka has guts to speak the truth of hidden Agendas of against our nation as well Karnataka...!
in fact who killed the BOMBAY POLICE CHEIF of Mumbai, its RSS becouse very soon he wanted to open mouth of big shots who are enjoing the government protocol and security today..
Almost all leaders and prominents in India are THUGS but some also TERRORISTS.
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