LANCASHIRE Council of Mosques (LCM) chairman has welcomed the UK’s most senior judge’s comments that courts must show respect to women who choose to keep their faces veiled due to their religious beliefs.

Lord Neuberger said judges must have ‘an understanding of different cultural and social habits’ to show fairness to those involved in trials.

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In a speech the Supreme Court president said: “It is necessary to have some understanding as to how people from different cultural, social, religious or other backgrounds think and behave.”

His remarks have received a mixed reaction from East Lancashire politicians.

LCM chairman and Burnley resident, Abdul Hamid Qureshi said: “I think he is right. It is a very British and accommodating point of view.

“Courts are very intimidating places and women who wear the veil should not have to remove it .

“In exceptional circumstances if giving evidence, the judge should be able to ask the woman to remove the veil.”

Former Blackburn MP Jack Straw said: “All participants in the court process should be treated with respect and consideration.

“But there’s a reason why ‘seeing what people mean’ is different from just ‘hearing what they say’, and key to the greater comprehension is being able to judge people from the demeanour of their face, as well as the words they use.

“I’d prefer the default to be that witnesses should in principle give evidence with face uncovered .”

Ukip candidate for Blackburn Dayle Taylor said: “I don’t think it is right for woman to be able to stay veiled in court for reasons of identity and justice.”

Former senior police officer and Blackburn Tory candidate Bob Eastwood said: “My views on the veil are very liberal but in court I do not see how a woman can remain veiled when in the witness box or dock .”