Judicial discipline verdict in Enait case overruled by Dutch Court of Judicial Discipline
In the Netherlands, the Court of Judicial Discipline has overruled a lower Court decision regarding the Enait case, concerning the Muslim attorney who refuses to stand for Judges on religious grounds because according to him Islam holds that all human beings are equal, thus preventing him to stand when Judges enter the court room. A lower Court had ruled Enait’s refusal to stand improper because it implies a lack of respect on his part for judicial authority that is not acceptable for an Attorney practicing law in the Netherlands. The Court of Discipline disagreed, ruling Enait does not “have the intention to express contempt towards the judicial branch”. The Court of Discipline also decided to overlook Enait’s controversial public comments, arguing that he is “inexperienced” in the public sphere and made several comments in the heat of the moment.