Burqa Battles: Muslim wife of an Isis recruiter in Australia refuses to take off her burqa or stand for the judge

A judge has refused to hear ­evidence from a Muslim woman who is suing police over a terrorism raid on her house because she would not remove her veil.



In what is believed to be an Australian first in a civil case, The Daily Telegraph reports today that NSW District Court judge Audrey Balla would not let ­Moutia Elzahed take the stand unless she ­took off her veil. But Ms Elzahed, who is one of two women married to Islamic extremist Hamdi Alqudsi, refused, saying it was against her religion to show her face to any man who was not a relative.



Ms Elzahed is suing the commonwealth and NSW for assault in relation to a counter-terrorism raid on her home in Sydney’s ­Revesby in September 2014.



Her lawyer Clive Evatt said, for religious reasons, his client could not reveal her face to any man. The Daily Telegraph ­reported Judge Balla gave Ms ­Elzahed a choice; she could have the court closed while she gave evidence or she could give evidence via video link.



But Mr Evatt declined both options on his client’s behalf ­because the mostly male lawyers on both sides would still be in court and would see her face.



Dressed in long robes, scarf and veil, Ms ­Elzahed also refused to stand for Judge Balla when she entered and left the court.



Ms Elzahed’s refusal to take off the veil is a blow to her case, which relied on her sworn testimony that she was punched by police during the dawn raid.



Ms Elzahed is seeking financial compensation for “assault and battery, wrongful arrest and false imprisonment and intimidation”.