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UK court upholds Indian-origin principal’s school prayer ban
Katharine Birbalsingh emphasized that “a school should be free to do what is right for the pupils it serves.”
Katharine Birbalsingh(left) and Michaela Community School(Right) / wikipedia/@Miss_Snuffy
An Indian-origin principal of a London school won a case in the UK High Court, which upheld her ban on prayer rituals.
The court's decision followed a legal challenge by a Muslim student who argued the policy was discriminatory. The student whose identity remains undisclosed for legal reasons, had argued that the school’s ban uniquely affected her faith due to its ritualized nature.
My statement regarding the verdict on our ban of prayer rituals at Michaela. pic.twitter.com/88UMC5UYXq
— Katharine Birbalsingh (@Miss_Snuffy) April 16, 2024
Katherine Birbalsingh, who serves as the principal of Michaela Community School in northwest London hailed the ruling as a victory for all schools, underlining that institutions should not be forced to alter their approach based on the preferences of a single student and her guardian.
In a written ruling, Justice Thomas Linden dismissed the pupil’s arguments, stating that by enrolling at the school, she had effectively consented to restrictions on manifesting her faith. Linden concluded that the prayer ritual policy was proportionate and its aims outweighed any adverse effects on the rights of Muslim pupils at the school.
Responding to the decision, the principal emphasized that “a school should be free to do what is right for the pupils it serves.” Education Secretary Gillian Keegan echoed Birbalsingh’s sentiments, asserting that head teachers are best positioned to make decisions within their schools.
I have always been clear that headteachers are best placed to make decisions in their school.
— Gillian Keegan MP (@GillianKeegan) April 16, 2024
Michaela is an outstanding school, and I hope this judgement gives all school leaders the confidence to make the right decisions for their pupils.
Keegan praised Michaela as an outstanding institution and expressed hope that the judgment would empower school leaders nationwide to prioritize the best interests of their pupils.
The High Court in London found the prayer ritual ban lawful under Article 9 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) and Section 19 of the Equality Act 2010.
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