WELLINGTON, Oct 27: A Muslim woman who always wears a veil told a New Zealand court on Wednesday she would rather kill herself than show her face in public.

Fouzya Salim, who was born in Afghanistan but has lived in New Zealand for nearly 10 years, said she had never left her house without wearing the traditional burqa which has only a small slit to reveal the eyes, Radio New Zealand reported.

Salim and another woman Feraiba Razamjoo are fighting an application in the Auckland District by lawyer Colin Amery to remove their veils when they give evidence in an insurance fraud case.

The pair are witnesses in the case and Amery, representing the defendant, is arguing that he would not be able to assess their demeanour and body language if they were allowed to testify wearing their dress.

Salim's husband told the court his wife did not wear her burqa inside their home but none of his male friends or extended family were allowed to see her.-dpa