ROME - Asmae Belfakir, a trainee lawyer at the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, was asked to leave a hearing in the Emilia-Romagna regional administrative court (TAR) by judge Giancarlo Mozzarelli, after she refused to uncover her face.

 Belfakir, 25, who has lived in Italy since she was three-months old, reacted angrily after the hearing. "I am upset... It has never happened to me. I have assisted at tens of hearings, even here at the TAR and nobody has ever asked me to take off the veil."

 Nor was she convinced that security justified the removal of her veil "because the veil keeps the face exposed and therefore I am perfectly identifiable."

 A note was stuck to the door of the chamber reminding participants that "anyone who takes part in or attends the hearing cannot carry weapons or sticks and must have an uncovered head and keep silent."

 Judge Mozzarelli explained as she left the room that the decision was taken "with respect to our culture and our traditions." A point Belfakir highlighted afterwards, "he spoke of culture, not even of the law" and she noted that she had attended a hearing with the same judge on the Dec 5 "and he didn't say anything to me."

 Belfakir suggested her next move would be to campaign for change, so that "girls like me don't have to collide with such barriers every day."

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