Muslim woman refuses to stand for Australian judge

[Gilly]

Muslim woman Moutia Elzahed, charged over refusal to stand in court, considers challenge

Moutia Elzahed, 49, from Revesby, is facing nine charges of disrespectful behaviour in court for not standing when Sydney District Court Judge Audrey Balla entered or left the court room during a civil hearing in November and December 2016.

Ms Elzahed had brought a lawsuit against the NSW and Federal Police, claiming she was assaulted during a counter terror raid at her home in 2014.

She is the wife of convicted Islamic State recruiter Hamdi Alqudsi, who is currently serving a six-year jail sentence for helping young Australians travel to Syria to fight.

Ms Elzahed is the first person in NSW to be charged with the offence of disrespectful behaviour in court since it was introduced last year.

During the civil hearing, Ms Elzahed's barrister Clive Evatt told the court his client "won't stand for anyone except Allah".

Today Ms Elzahed's solicitor Zali Burrows said she has been speaking to two barristers about launching a constitutional challenge but could not provide any more details at this stage.

She said her client had not been disrespectful.

Ms Elzahed was supposed to appear before the Downing Centre Local Court today, but Ms Burrows said her client was unwell and could provide a medical certificate.

The matter will return to court on July 20.
http://www.msn.com/en-au/news/austr...urt-considers-challenge/ar-BBCGCNx?li=AAgfYrC

Social media in Australia is using this and a recent case where a muslim man abducted and allegedly raped a young girl then forced her to marry him as proof that muslims do not respect the laws and culture of Australia.

Teen ‘abducted from Sydney home, raped and forced into Islamic wedding’
A 31-year-old man, arrested for allegedly kidnapping a teenage girl from her Sydney home and forcing her into an Islamic marriage, has been ordered to face court next month.

Court documents allege the man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, abducted the young girl through her bedroom window at 1.10am on Monday.

He is then alleged to have taken her to a hotel at Brighton Le Sands, in Sydney’s south, where he had sex with her, and kissed her neck and face, all without her consent.

The pair is also understood to have signed documents during an Islamic wedding ceremony.

He is facing three charges of taking a person with the intention to obtain advantage, assault with act of indecency and sexual intercourse without consent.

His solicitor appeared in Bankstown Local Court this afternoon, flanked by his client’s supporters, and requested the matter be adjourned to Burwood Court on July 26.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/new...g/news-story/fbaf42743c17a0da48d55b8b7510022c

 

[marlonbrowndo]

Extremist idiots

 

[kingusama92]

The woman is being ridiculous.

As for the man, not sure how people can use this crime to insult Muslims. I'm sure there are hundreds of cases where non-Muslims have abducted and raped women in Australia.

Bad people do bad things.

 

[marlonbrowndo]

These people are not Muslims, as much as you'd like to paint us all with the same brush. I have friend slivijg in Australia for years and they are practicing Muslims.

 

[Gilly]

The woman is being ridiculous.

As for the man, not sure how people can use this crime to insult Muslims. I'm sure there are hundreds of cases where non-Muslims have abducted and raped women in Australia.

Bad people do bad things.

Yes there has been cases no doubt, but the involvement of a cleric in marrying them is the major sticking point.

 

[Gilly]

These people are not Muslims, as much as you'd like to paint us all with the same brush. I have friend slivijg in Australia for years and they are practicing Muslims.

How does your friend find living in Australia?.

 

[marlonbrowndo]

These people are not Muslims, as much as you'd like to paint us all with the same brush. I have friend slivijg in Australia for years and they are practicing Muslims.

Friends living*

 

[marlonbrowndo]

How does your friend find living in Australia?.

Not sure but I think they're happy. Why?

 

[Gilly]

Not sure but I think they're happy. Why?

Most of the abuse on Australians comes from people that don't live here and have never been here so its good to see what someone who is actually living here has to say.

 

[Pakistanian]

How big is the Muslim community in Australia? I didn't there would be so many Muslims there.

 

[Gilly]

How big is the Muslim community in Australia? I didn't there would be so many Muslims there.

The community is not that big but there seems to be a lot of crackpots that draw bad publicity to them.

 

[Bewal Express]

So some of these guys have gone all the way to Australia to annoy the Australians. It just shows the stupidity of some of these muslims. Why not just go there if its not to your liking?

 

[Black Zero]

Really ... she would not stand for anyone but Allah??
Her husband is already serving for recruiting Youngs to go to Syria.

She is a ticking bomb and must be dealt with swiftly as these people got no place in civilized world.

 

[JaDed]

So basically Australians on social media are generalizing or stereotyping?

 

[90MPH]

The community is not that big but there seems to be a lot of crackpots that draw bad publicity to them.

Yes of course. How many crackpots within other communities ??

Are Muslims causing most of the crimes in Australia ?? Please enlighten us more on these crackpots.

 

[Black Zero]

Yes of course. How many crackpots within other communities ??

Are Muslims causing most of the crimes in Australia ?? Please enlighten us more on these crackpots.

its not about individual crimes, its about ideology based crimes. nothing individual about these.

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

I don't see that it's a big deal. She wants to be rigid about not standing up to honour the Judge, that's her decision. By the same token, if it's Australian law that you have to show respect then they are well within their rights to press charges. It's a side issue to the main charge which I presume has something to do with terrorism.

 

[Black Zero]

I don't see that it's a big deal. She wants to be rigid about not standing up to honour the Judge, that's her decision. By the same token, if it's Australian law that you have to show respect then they are well within their rights to press charges. It's a side issue to the main charge which I presume has something to do with terrorism.

Headache is one of the symptoms of brain tumor, so if we add (stance of standing only for allah) with husband jailed on proven terrorism charges and with herself accused of other various crimes, in this case I would say take "this" headache seriously.

On another note, I think such laws, standing for anthems/judges, silence for one minute etc are just made up social rituals, which should be challenged.
and I read they (lady's lawyers) are planning to challenge this new law.

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

Headache is one of the symptoms of brain tumor, so if we add (stance of standing only for allah) with husband jailed on proven terrorism charges and with herself accused of other various crimes, in this case I would say take "this" headache seriously.

On another note, I think such laws, standing for anthems/judges, silence for one minute etc are just made up social rituals, which should be challenged.
and I read they (lady's lawyers) are planning to challenge this new law.

I'm sure it will be taken seriously, although not standing for the judge is going to be the less serious part of it. But if it brings social rituals under review at some point it might have served a purpose.

 

[humzy]

I live in Australia, most of the hate comes from the uneducated class or areas where there is less immigration such as northern queensland IMO.

I haven't been discriminated against since i was 12 and that was a kid calling me a "dumb wog". Funny considering my heritage is pakistani, I am now 27 so that goes to show how the media portrays things compared to real life experience. I am in Sydney though which is a hotbed of multiculturalism.

 

[Yossarian]

Yes there has been cases no doubt, but the involvement of a cleric in marrying them is the major sticking point.

Actually, technically speaking, you don't need 'a cleric' to conduct a Muslim marriage.

Furthermore, just as amongst Christians there is nothing to stop an individual proclaiming themselves as being a "Reverend", similarly there is nothing to stop an individual calling themselves "Maulvi". They don't need to pass an exam or be appointed by any religious body. Just like a self-proclaimed 'Reverend' don't need to pass an exam or be appointed by any religious body.

Now whether that individual is registered in Law to conduct an official civil marriage is a totally separate question.

For example, in the UK, there is nothing to stop someone calling themselves a "Maulvi" and then conducting a religious ceremony, but in order to conduct an officially recognised civil wedding they need to be registered, and the wedding place also needs to be registered.

I doubt an unregistered individual conduction a 'wedding' in a random hotel room would fit the bill as far as an official civil wedding goes.

 

[saeedhk]

Having lived in Australia for a bit and contrary to popular opinion, Australians are welcoming , sociable and tolerant people.

If a person thinks his/her beliefs clash with the culture, way of life and mores of their adopted country, he/she is more than welcome to go back to where they came from.Simple!