UK’s first hijab-wearing judge aims to inspire Muslims
A woman in Britain who has become the first judge in the western world to wear a hijab says she hopes to be an inspiration to young Muslims.
Last week, Raffia Arshad, 40, who grew up in Yorkshire in northern England, was appointed as a deputy district judge on the Midlands circuit.
She said she wanted to work in law since she was 11 and her new role was a boost for diversity in the English legal system.
Ms Arshad said the judicial office wanted to promote people from different ethnic backgrounds, but were unaware she wore a hijab when she was appointed to the post.
“It’s definitely bigger than me. I know this is not about me,” she told the UK’s Metro newspaper.
“It’s important for all women, not just Muslim women, but it is particularly important for Muslim women.”
Ms Arshad has practised private law for the past 17 years, dealing with cases involving subjects such as forced marriage and female genital mutilation.
She was the first member of her family to go to university and has written about Islamic family law.
Although she welcomed the promotion by the Lord Chief Justice, Ms Arshad said the happiness she gained from other people sharing the news was “far greater” than the satisfaction she got from advancing her career.
“I’ve had so many emails from people, men and women,” she said.
“It’s the ones from women that stand out, saying that they wear a hijab and thought they wouldn’t even be able to become a barrister, let alone a judge.”
Ms Arshad said she regularly suffered discrimination in court because she wore a hijab.
She said she was sometimes mistaken for a court worker or a client.
She was recently asked by an usher whether she was a client, an interpreter or if she was in court on work experience, she said.
“I have nothing against the usher who said that but it reflects that, as a society, even for somebody who works in the courts, there is still this prejudicial view that professionals at the top end don’t look like me,” she said.
She was advised by a family member not wear a hijab at an interview for a scholarship at London’s City Law School in 2001 because it would affect her chances.
“I decided that I was going to wear my headscarf because, for me, it’s so important to accept the person for who they are,” Ms Arshad said.
“And if I had to become a different person to pursue my profession, it’s not something I wanted.”
The joint heads of St Mary’s Family Law Chambers, Vickie Hodges and Judy Claxton, welcomed news of Ms Arshad’s appointment.
“Raffia has led the way for Muslim women to succeed in the law and at the bar, and has worked tirelessly to promote equality and diversity in the profession,” they said.
“It is an appointment richly deserved and entirely on merit and all at St Mary’s wish her every success.”