Muslim schoolgirl wins court case

The Appeal Court has ruled that a Muslim schoolgirl was unlawfully excluded from school because she wore traditional Muslim dress instead of the school uniform.

Shabina Begum was sent home from Denbigh High School in Luton, because she was wearing a full-length traditional Muslim gown, known as a jilbab. The head teachers and governors of the 1,000 - pupil school, where 79% of the students are Muslim, had told Miss Begum that the wearing of the jilbab was unacceptable and that she needed to adhere to the school's uniform policy.

Miss Begum took her case to the High Court where the judge ruled that she had failed to show how the school had excluded or breached her human rights.

The Appeal court ruling today upheld Miss Begum's claim that Denbigh High School had denied her right to manifest her religion.

The decision has been welcomed by the Muslim Council of Britain. Iqbal Sacranie, Secretary-General of the Muslim Council of Britain, said: "This is a very important ruling on the issue of personal freedoms. Many other schools have willingly accommodated Muslim schoolgirls wearing the jilbab.

"The British Muslim community is a diverse community in terms of the interpretation and understanding of their faith and its practice. Within this broad spectrum those that believe and choose to wear the jilbab and consider it to be part of their faith requirement for modest attire should be respected. Today's judgement is a clear reflection of that common-sense approach."

The ruling is set to have major implications for multi-faith schools across the UK.

(KMcA/SP)