Victorian judge bans niqab in court's public gallery

Wife of terrorism defendant had applied for permission to wear face veil during trial

A Victorian judge has banned a woman whose husband is facing terrorism charges from wearing a niqab in court, saying it posed a potential security risk.

The woman applied through her husband's lawyers to wear the face veil, which she said was a "a fundamental way in which she observes her faith", while sitting in the public gallery to support him through the six-week trial.