A MUSLIM schoolgirl today won her battle to wear her
traditional head-to-toe dress in the classroom.The Court of Appeal ruled that her school had acted unlawfully in barring her from wearing the outfit.Shabina Begum, 15, accused teachers and governors of Denbigh High School in Luton of denying her the "right to education and to manifest her religious beliefs".
Lord Justice Brooke called on the Department of Education to give schools more guidance on how to comply with their obligations under the Human Rights Act.
Miss Begum was represented at the appeal court by the Prime Minister's wife Cherie Booth QC.Ms Booth told judges at a hearing last December that the case involved "fundamental issues" about the nature and interpretation of Miss Begum's rights to education and freedom to practice her religion.Last June, High Court judge Mr Justice Bennett dismissed the girl’s
application for judicial review, ruling she had failed to show that the "highly successful" 1,000-pupil school, with 79 per cent of its students Muslims, had excluded her or breached her human rights.
Miss Booth said Mr Justice Bennett was saying that the school, which sent her home after she refused to wear authorised school uniform, was entitled to "pick and choose" which religious beliefs it accepted.After the judgment, Shabina, now 16 and attending a school where the jilbab is allowed, said: "Today’s decision is a victory for all Muslims who wish to preserve their identity and values despite prejudice and bigotry."
Would we be allowed to send our kids to school with this getup on?
Or even this one?