Guest asked whether her hijab meant she was a terrorist, court told

A Muslim convert was asked by the owners of a hotel she was staying in if she was a terrorist because she was wearing a hijab, a court heard today.

Ericka Tazi, 60, told Liverpool magistrates court she faced a tirade of abuse from Benjamin Vogelenzang and his wife, Sharon, while staying at their hotel in Aintree, Liverpool.

Tazi said it was because she was wearing traditional Muslim dress. The couple, who run the Bounty House hotel, deny using threatening, abusive or insulting words which were religiously aggravated.

Members of the campaign group The Christian Institute held a protest outside the court in support of the couple.

Tazi, who converted to Islam 18 months ago, said the couple's comments were made during a month-long stay at the hotel while she attended a course.

Anya Horwood, prosecuting, told the court that Benjamin Vogelenzang, 53, called the prophet Muhammad a warlord and likened him to Hitler and Saddam Hussein. Vogelenzang's 54-year-old wife said Tazi's Islamic dress represented oppression and was a form of bondage.

Tazi had worn western clothing, but on her last day at the hotel, reverted to Islamic dress, the court heard. Benjamin Vogelenzang began laughing at her and asked her why she was wearing those clothes. He began discussing his Christian faith and his wife joined in.

Tazi walked away but was followed by the male hotelier, allegedly acting like a "whirling dervish" and asking if she was a terrorist. "She asked the couple to stop insulting her," the prosecutor said. Tazi tried to explain the importance of her faith. "At that point Sharon Vogelenzang pointed her finger in her face, shouting, saying she had provoked this because of wearing the gown."

Benjamin Vogelenzang said he had referred to historical figures, but not Muhammad, and had not meant to be offensive or insulting.

When questioned by Hugh Tomlinson QC, for the defence, Tazi said that she was not trying to make a statement by wearing the hijab and denied having robust arguments about religion with other guests during her stay.

She said her father and grandfather had fought in both world wars, adding: "I love my country, I thought I had the freedom to wear what I wanted to wear."

Tazi said she had thought the Vogelenzangs were a genteel couple until the incident.

She admitted she tried many religions before converting to Islam when she married. "My journey has been a long, long journey, it was a very difficult decision to wear these clothes ... I'm a normal Warrington girl who liked the Beatles.

"I had a different life before and I'm proud. My hijab is part of my faith, it's in the The trial continues.