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Schoolgirl loses Muslim gown case
Shabina Begum had wanted to wear a full-length jilbab gown A 15-year-old girl has lost her High Court battle to wear a style of Islamic dress to school. Shabina Begum has been out of her Luton school since September 2002 in a row over her wish to wear an ankle-length jilbab gown. She said her religious rights and education were being denied. But Denbigh High School said the jilbab was a health and safety risk, and it already offered an alternative uniform for its Muslim pupils. The long gown is worn by some Muslim women who seek to cover their arms and legs, but not faces or hands. Outside court, the schoolâs solicitor Iqbal Javed said the uniform had been agreed after wide consultation and the focus would now be on readmitting Shabina to school. Return to school "The uniform is designed to be inclusive and takes into account the cultural and sensitive needs of the pupils," he said. "Its appropriateness for Muslim students was recently reiterated by the local Council of Mosques. Naturally we are pleased the council and school has been successful. We now want to concentrate our efforts on reintegrating Shabina Begum back into school as quickly as possible to prevent any further loss to her school career." There was no immediate comment from lawyers for Shabina. Denbigh is a 1,000-pupil comprehensive where almost 80% of pupils are Muslim. Human rights claim Lawyers had told the court it had a flexible school uniform policy which took into account all faiths and cultures and was not acting in a discriminatory manner. The case echoed controversy in France, where politicians have voted for a ban on religious symbols in schools, including the hijab, the headscarf worn by Muslim girls and women. Shabinaâs solicitor-advocate Yvonne Spencer had told the High Court the schoolâs ban on her chosen Islamic dress amounted to "constructive exclusion" and breached both domestic law and the European Convention on Human Rights. But Simon Birks, appearing for the school, said Shabina had not been excluded but had chosen to stay away. Muslim girls could wear an alternative uniform option of the traditional shalwar kameez trousers and jerkin outfit but the jilbab presented a health and safety risk, he said. Notable that this is an 80% muslim school - it only takes one nobber to spoil things for the majority - if sheâd succeeded I wonder how many other girls would have been forcibly âJilbabbedâ by their families? Funny how the lawyer representing the school was presumably muslim and the familyâs was presumably English. Check out the range of Jilbabs at Islamic Boutique - I personally like the look of the âLuxurious Jilbabâ for a forthcoming stag-do. They do welcome wholesale orders and who knows - they may throw in a fez or a pair of antlers. Posted by: Howard UK 2004-06-15 |
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