The final episode of the cult 1960s series “The Prisoner” features a form of trial where Patrick McGoohan (No. 6) faces a court where most of the participants are clothed from head to foot in a white hooded robe with their faces covered by a black and white mask. I can’t find a decent still of the entire scene but the second picture on this page shows one of the participants and will give you some idea:
http://www.the-prisoner-6.freeserve.co.uk/episode_seventeen.htm
The entire scene exudes an air of hostility and fear and this is considerably heightened by the dress code of those involved.. So it is with this Muslim form of dress. My example is only fiction, I know, but it demonstrates quite clearly the sense of menace that can be portrayed by people in masks. If the entire courtroom consisted of people similarly dressed it would certainly present an aura of menace to many people. Concealing one’s face is not conducive to good social interaction and, like it or not, introduces elements of fear, suspicion, misunderstanding and mistrust among many people. The woman involved should have some consideration for other people taking part in the proceedings (many of whom may not particularly wish to be there) but of course she doesn’t. She does not have to appear as she does, she chooses to and her choice should not override the feelings of all the other people involved.
Oh, and we’ll probably be doing this all again on Monday. The latest decision related only to the pre-trial proceedings. On Monday the judge is due to rule on whether the woman can appear masked up at her trial.