Rania El-Alloul, a Hijab-wearing woman received an apology 5 years after being denied being heard in court because of wearing a headscarf.
Judge Eliana Marengo offered her apology as she asked El-Alloul to remove her Hijab in 2015 before hearing her case. El-Alloul was in court to ask for her confiscated car back.
Judge Marengo was ordered to apologise by the Québec's judicial council, as disciplining judges falls under its responsibility.
The judge, who compared El-Alloul’s hijab to hats and sunglasses acknowledged she was wrong the judge and said in a statement read at a hearing:
“My reference to hats and sunglasses was simply meant to exemplify how the rules of decorum are generally applied in the courtroom and was most certainly not meant to disrespect either you or your beliefs,”
“I would like to offer you my most sincere apologies, which I hope you will accept.”
Judge Marengo did not receive any further disciplinary action.
El-Alloul accepted the apology and stated:
“This is what my faith teaches me.”
“I hope she understands the pain she caused me, and why it is so important for her to account for her actions,” she added.
