A Toronto-area Muslim woman who alleges she was sexually assaulted by two men – and wants to give evidence in court wearing a niqab – is appealing an Ontario Superior Court ruling that initially appeared to be in her favour, but did not fully grant her the right to testify with her face covered. The…
Permitting alleged victims or any witness to wear a veil while testifying would fundamentally change core principles in the Canadian justice system, an Ontario Superior Court judge was told yesterday. Defense lawyer Jack Pinkofsky claimed that, “The face of justice cannot be faceless.” Superior Court Justice Frank Marrocco has been asked to decide whether an…
An RCMP (Royal Canadian Mounted Police) informant who helped thwart a domestic terrorist plot said that he feels guilty about the role he played in recruiting four youths to the group. Mubin Shaikh told a Brampton, ON, court he knew the teens would get caught up in the terrorism investigation as a result. Shaikh conceded…
Muslim police agents at the Central Holland police corps now have option to take a Muslim oath when joining the corps. Previously, police agents had two options for taking their oaths: “so help me God” and “I state and promise.” As of a few years ago, Muslims at the Corps could declare, with their right…
Crown lawyer John Neander argued in his closing submissions at the first trial of an alleged member of the “Toronto 18” that it would be an “insult to reason” to think the man didn’t know what the group was about. He told the Superior Court Justice John Sproat that there was “a sheer superabundance of…
