In the United States, Nadia Kahf becomes the first judge to wear the hijab

It’s a historic moment. On March 24, at the age of 56, Nadia Kahf became the first woman to wear the hijab to become a judge in an American court. He will practice in the county court of Passaic, New Jersey, where he will handle family matters.

Appointment blocked for almost a year

Born in Syria, Nadia Kahf came to the United States when she was two years old. After studying law at Seton Hall University, she specialized in family and education law in 2002as reported byFrench media agency.

In February 2022, she had already been appointed as a judge. But the Republican Senator Kristin Corrado blocked her confirmation for almost a year, before definitively withdrawing her veto last October.

Read also: Les Hijabeuses fight against “the French cultural exception” which bans the headscarf for football players

“I want the younger generation to see that it is possible to practice your religion without fear”

The swearing-in ceremony was attended by numerous supporters of the judge. Wearing a veil, Nadia Kahf took an oath on the Koranto the applause of the audience, report the local media Northern Jersey.

” I am proud to represent the Arab and Muslim communities in New Jersey and the United States » confided the new judge during the ceremony. ” I want the younger generation to see that it is possible to practice their religion without fear » she added.

The appointment of Judge Kahf is only a first step: the next day, Dalya Youssef, a lawyer specializing in family law and also wearing the veil, he was appointed a judge, this time of Somerset County Superior Court.