Muslim school student loses UK court bid over prayer rituals ban

A Muslim student's UK court challenge against a leading London school's prohibition of prayer rites was unsuccessful on Tuesday, in a widely publicized case concerning the freedom of religious expression in educational institutions.

A Muslim pupil lost a UK court challenge Tuesday against a top London school's ban on prayer rituals, in a case about freedom of religion in schools that captured national attention.

The student, who cannot be named, took legal action against Michaela Community School in northwest London, claiming the policy was discriminatory and "uniquely" affected her faith due to its ritualised nature.

She argued the school's prohibition of on-site prayer unlawfully breached her right to religious freedom and was "the kind of discrimination which makes religious minorities feel alienated from society".

The school -- state-funded but independently run and renowned for its academic achievement record and strict rules -- countered that the policy imposed last year was justified.

The High Court in London hearing the case was told the ban introduced last year stemmed from several dozen students beginning to pray in the school's yard, using blazers to kneel on, the BBC reported.

It then imposed the new rules due to concerns about a "culture shift" towards "segregation between religious groups and intimidation within the group of Muslim pupils", the court reportedly heard.

In a written ruling, judge Thomas Linden dismissed the pupil's arguments, ruling that by enrolling at the school she had effectively accepted being subject to restrictions on manifesting her faith.

He concluded that the prayer ritual policy was "proportionate" and that its aims and ability to achieve them "outweighs" any "adverse effects" on the rights of Muslim pupils at the school.

Responding to the decision Katharine Birbalsingh, headteacher of Michaela Community School, said "a school should be free to do what is right for the pupils it serves".

"The court's decision is therefore a victory for all schools," she added on X (formerly Twitter).

"Schools should not be forced by one child and her mother to change its approach simply because they have decided they don't like something at the school."

Education Secretary Gillian Keegan also welcomed the ruling, saying "headteachers are best placed to make decisions in their school".

"Michaela is an outstanding school and I hope this judgment gives all school leaders the confidence to make the right decisions for their pupils."



X
Sitelerimizde reklam ve pazarlama faaliyetlerinin yürütülmesi amaçları ile çerezler kullanılmaktadır.

Bu çerezler, kullanıcıların tarayıcı ve cihazlarını tanımlayarak çalışır.

İnternet sitemizin düzgün çalışması, kişiselleştirilmiş reklam deneyimi, internet sitemizi optimize edebilmemiz, ziyaret tercihlerinizi hatırlayabilmemiz için veri politikasındaki amaçlarla sınırlı ve mevzuata uygun şekilde çerez konumlandırmaktayız.

Bu çerezlere izin vermeniz halinde sizlere özel kişiselleştirilmiş reklamlar sunabilir, sayfalarımızda sizlere daha iyi reklam deneyimi yaşatabiliriz. Bunu yaparken amacımızın size daha iyi reklam bir deneyimi sunmak olduğunu ve sizlere en iyi içerikleri sunabilmek adına elimizden gelen çabayı gösterdiğimizi ve bu noktada, reklamların maliyetlerimizi karşılamak noktasında tek gelir kalemimiz olduğunu sizlere hatırlatmak isteriz.