Schoolgirl loses Muslim gown case

[muriel_volestrangler]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/3808073.stm

From the Q&A link (better detail than the main story):

In September 2002 she turned up wearing a long flowing garment known as a jilbab - essentially an ankle-length skirt.

The school objected, saying there was an agreed Islamic-style uniform of shalwar kameez - a trouser suit with covering jerkin. This uniform was agreed by the governors, among whom are members of the local Muslim community.
...
The school's management has never objected to Miss Begum wearing an Islamic headscarf known as a Hejab and many of Miss Begum's fellow students do so.

Miss Begum said wearing the jilbab is a religious act in itself. The shalwar kameez may meet the need for modest dress but it is also worn by people from other faiths. But, others disagree.

A slightly different situation from the French hejab ban. Here we have an agreed style of uniform that most of the local Muslims are happy to accept preserves modesty, but the girl wants a specifically Muslim dress. She says it is a specifically religious statement she wants to make - and I think I therefore agree with the judgement. Any thoughts (remembering that school uniforms are common in Britain)?

[Name removed]

1. Deleted message

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[muriel_volestrangler]

3. This is Britain, not the US

'Gang signs' are not a worry; it's more the divisiveness of 'my clothes are more expensive than yours' (there is a grant for poor families to get the school uniforms).

Wearing school uniforms is part of the social culture of Britain. Given that, isn't an agreed mode of dress, that satisfies local Muslim modesty requirements, a suitable compromise?

[Rowdyboy]

7. "Jews and sissies" huh.....

At least we know where YOU'RE coming from.

[veganwitch]

2. if france wants to really be religiously neutral...

they need to stop having their national holidays based on the catholic calendar.

its really hard to take this anti-religious expression crusade seriously when ascension day is a reason to shut down everything.

[Scairp]

4. For pity's sake

It's a long dress, what is the big deal? A GIRL can't wear a dress to school anymore? Or is it because she called an Islamic dress? They really should pick their battles more carefully and not put her out of school for such an idiotic reason. Her education is much more important than whether or not she wears a long dress to school.:grr:

[Lydia Leftcoast]

5. Well imagine this scenario

Remember that school uniforms are commonplace in the U.K., including in state schools, and have been for generations.

Say a Christian student refused to wear her school's uniform of a plaid skirt and gray blazer and wanted to wear blue jeans and sweaters of varying colors to reflect the changing liturgical seasons: green for Trinity, purple for Lent, white for Christmas, etc. Suppose she protested that atheist and other non-Christian students could wear the plaid skirt and gray blazer and she wanted to wear something that distinctly reflected her faith.

How far do you think she'd get?

[Guaranteed]

6. Well...

This particular case doesn't make me quite as angry as most of these types of cases typically do, but I honestly don't see why they don't just let her wear the damned dress, for Christ's sake.

[geniph]

8. The school has a uniform code.

She wore something not permitted under the uniform code. It's no different than if she showed up in hot pants and a halter top. It's not the school's accepted uniform. If she (and her parents) don't like the accepted uniform, they should work with school authorities to change it.

This isn't a religious freedom issue. You attend a school with a uniform code, you wear the uniform. What's the beef? Don't like the uniform, attend a different school.

[Cheswick2.0]

9. Do all the students at the school wear a uniform?

If not then I don't see how they school can required this student to wear an agreed upon uniform.

[Mithras61]

10. Based on the ruling, it appears that...

the students DO all wear the prescribed uniform...

Dismissing Shabina's application for judicial review, Mr Justice Bennett said the limitations placed on what she could wear was "proportionate" to that aim, and her human rights had not been infringed.

Guidance for schools discouraged them from excluding pupils for breaching school uniform policy, he noted

But that did not mean schools could not do so "if the pupil flatly refuses to wear the appropriate school uniform", he said.

[dArKeR]

11. Muslim girl loses dress fight

http://www.news24.com/News24/World/News/0,,2-10-1462_1542971,00.html