The Higher Judicial Council (CSM) has ruled that the veil may be worn on religious grounds in Italian courts.
In their plenary session this morning, the majority approved a resolution establishing that “full respect must be assured to to those behaviours which, without causing disturbance to the regular and correct court proceedings, constitute a legitimate exercise of the right to profess one’s own religion, including those precepts that relate to clothing and other outward signs.”
The ruling has come in response to a query from the head of the Turin tribunal, after the president of the first criminal division bench had asked an interpreter appointed by the prosecuting magistrate to remove her veil, despite the fact that her face was clearly visible, on the grounds that her behaviour flew in the face of the legal obligation to attend courts bare-headed.
The incident took place on 14th October 2011, after which the interpreter left the court, relinquishing the job in hand.