The website of the Electonic Telegraph (UK) has been hacked, and the full url for the following article is not presently available. It can be found in the "local" news for December 8, 2001.
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Muslim's high ideals fall foul of planning law
By David Sapsted
(Filed: 08/12/2001)
Saturday 8 December 2001
 http://www.telegraph.co.uk

AN Iranian man's desire to protect his wife from prying eyes has fallen foul of council planning regulations.

Daryoush Danesh, a devout Muslim, erected a 6ft fence around his house in Sprowston, Norwich, to prevent passers-by from looking through windows and seeing the exposed flesh of his wife.

She was so worried about being seen that she felt she could not even enter the living room without wearing a veil, Norwich magistrates were told.

To placate her, Mr Danesh had the £1,500 fence built, only to be told by Broadland district council that regulations limited the height of fences at the front to a metre.

When he rejected the council's request to remove it, an enforcement notice was served.

Rob New, his solicitor, told the court that Mrs Danesh "could be seen by all and sundry" who looked over a metre-high fence.

He said that she had only recently come to Britain from Iran and was a timid woman who felt "uneasy, uncomfortable, and genuinely vulnerable" in the front room where the family prayed.

"She felt because of her religious belief that unless she adopted the garb of a traditional Muslim - a full-length dress and veil - she would not be adhering to her faith," Mr New said.

Jamieson Plummer, prosecuting, said that Mr Danesh had told the council that the fence was put up for privacy reasons and, although the council was sympathetic, he did not have planning permission.

Mr Danesh was fined £400 with £355 costs. The court heard that he had now lowered the fence at a cost of £500.

Mr New said: "Mrs Danesh is so concerned and so upset that she has asked that they move so that she can continue her religion and lifestyle in peace and contentment."

 http://www.telegraph.co.uk