Detroit, USA - A federal court is taking up the lawsuit of a Muslim woman who refused to remove her veil during a small-claims hearing, prompting a judge to dismiss her case.
U.S. District Judge John Feikens said Tuesday that he will issue a written opinion in the suit filed by Ginnnah Muhammad against Judge Paul Paruk in Hamtramck, a city surrounded by Detroit.
Muhammad, 44, of Detroit, said her religious freedom was violated when Paruk asked her to remove the veil that covered all but her eyes, then dismissed her case last year.
Muhammad was contesting a $3,000 rental-car company charge to repair a vehicle that she said thieves had damaged.
Margaret Nelson, an assistant state attorney general who is representing Paruk, said Muhammad's lawsuit has no merit. She said Paruk needed to "fully observe" Muhammad, and his ruling wasn't based on religion.