Hastings woman Yasmeen Ali was yesterday barred from entering a Hastings District Court courtroom because she refused to take off her headscarf.
The woman was there to support her brother, also a Muslim, who was being sentenced on an assault charge.
Judge Geoff Rea asked Carlos Manuel Brooking, 22, to remove his "hat", which he did.
However, Brooking was reluctant to remove the smaller garment underneath and walked out of court. He later apologised.
Ms Ali was stopped from re-entering the court after the incident and told Judge Rea had ordered she was not to be allowed in wearing the scarf.
Mr de Bres today called for reassurance for the Muslim community.
"I can't imagine a nun being told to remove such attire, and the same should apply to others who wear head coverings for religious reasons, such as Muslims, Sikhs and Jews," he said.
"The account of what happened is somewhat disputed and a clear statement from the court of what actually occurred would be helpful."
Judicial communications manager Neil Billington told The Dominion Post newspaper Judge Rea had had a "mistaken assumption of what was occurring in the courtroom".
"The judge required the removal of the woman because of her association with (her brother), who had just been removed," Mr Billington said.
"The judge had mistakenly assumed that her headgear was a demonstration of protest at the court."
