Friday, August 06, 2010

Burqa Trial Man Anwar Sayed 'Brutally Stabbed'

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Anwar Sayed (right), with lawyer Andrew Skerritt at a previous trial appearance. Photograph: WA Today

WA TODAY: The man whose trial has led to controversy over the wearing of a Muslim headscarf in court has been "brutally stabbed" after being stopped in his car, his lawyer says.

Anwar Sayed, who a court yesterday heard had received written and verbal death threats for supposedly agitating to abolish the wearing of a niqab, also known as a burqa, was allegedly attacked this morning.

Mr Sayed is alleged to have obtained more than $750,000 from federal and state governments by artificially inflating student numbers at Muslim Ladies College in Kenwick.

But the case has been overshadowed by the niqab issue, which has raised legal questions on whether the witness should be entitled to obscure her face from the judge and jury.

While a date was being set today for Mr Sayed's retrial, his lawyer Mark Trowell said the school director had been "brutally stabbed to the chest and face, his car having been stopped".

Mr Trowell told the court Mr Sayed had taken himself to his office after being stabbed, before being rushed to hospital. (+ videos) >>> Chalpat Sonti with AAP | Friday, August 06, 2010

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