Detroit case dismissed over Muslim veil

DETROIT, Oct. 25 (UPI) -- A Detroit judge has come under criticism for throwing out a small claims court case because the Muslim plaintiff refused to remove her full-face veil.

Dawud Walid, executive director of the Michigan branch of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, said Judge Paul Paruk violated Ginnnah Muhammad's civil rights on Oct. 11 when he dismissed the case.

Muhammad was challenging a rental car company's bill for $2,750 to repair a vehicle after thieves vandalized it, the Detroit Free Press reported Wednesday.

Paruk told the newspaper he needs to see the face of a person testifying and said he had tried to accommodate Muhammad by offering to allow her to wear the veil during the proceedings except when she testified.

"My job in the courtroom is to make a determination as to the veracity of somebody's claim," Paruk told the newspaper.