Posted on 06/15/2004 9:09:59 AM PDT by wmichgrad
LONDON – A 15-year-old British schoolgirl who went to court after being told she couldn't wear traditional Muslim dress in the classroom lost a legal bid Tuesday to overturn the ban.
Shabina Begum was sent home from Denbigh High School in Luton, north of London, in September 2002 for wearing the jilbab, a long, flowing gown covering all her body except her hands and face. She has not attended school since.
She went to the High Court, arguing she was being denied her right to education and to manifest her religious beliefs.
The school argued the jilbab posed a health and safety risk and might cause divisions among pupils, with those who wore traditional dress being seen as "better Muslims" than others.
Judge Sir Hugh Bennett ruled that the school's dress code was a "reasoned, balanced, proportionate policy" and that Begum's human rights had not been violated.
Four-fifths of Denbigh's 1,000 pupils are Muslims. The school denies acting in a discriminatory manner and says it has a flexible school uniform policy that takes into account all faiths and cultures. Pupils are allowed to wear trousers, skirts or a traditional shalwar kameez, consisting of trousers and a tunic.
"Having considered the matter carefully, it seems to me unrealistic and artificial to say that the claimant's right to education has been denied in the particular circumstances of this case," Bennett said.
The judge refused Begum permission to appeal, but she can still ask the Court of Appeal to hear the case.
Her lawyer, Yvonne Spencer, said Begum was considering whether to appeal. She said the teenager was "devastated" by the decision.
"What it effectively states is that a pupil who is behaving disruptively in class has a better right to education than a pupil who asks a school to breach the rules on uniform and wear religious dress in accordance with genuine and sincerely held religious beliefs," she said. 
Shabina Begum, 15, leaves the High Court in London, Tuesday June 15, 2004, after losing her legal battle for the right to wear traditional Muslim dress in the classroom at Denbigh High School. A 15-year-old British schoolgirl who went to court after being told she couldn't wear traditional Muslim dress in the classroom lost a legal bid Tuesday to overturn the ban.
"Four-fifths of Denbigh's 1,000 pupils are Muslims"
Good lord.. What a disaster.
A disaster of their own making......................bad decisions coming back to bite them in the butt.
How about she (and the other 3+ million) go back to the good old Shariah countries they came from? Everyone wins ...
There is NOTHING wrong with a child dressing *conservatively* according to her religious beliefs.
In fact I commend here.
IF we do this here in the U.S.A. it WILL be time to revive the revolution and take this country back!
Health reasons? B.S.!
She can go back to a Muslim country and wear anything she likes. hahahahahah just try it.
"A disaster of their own making......................bad decisions coming back to bite them in the butt."
And one the liberals here seem to be eager to replicate.
I wonder what the US 9th would have ruled?
Allahu Fubar!
No one listened to Enoch Powell. And now they're living to regret it.
No one listened to Enoch Powell. And now they're living to regret it.
You're in America- lose the hats and costumes.
I agree with you. In America, this sort of attire falls under "free exercise of religion." Gosh, too many girls in this country go to school dressed as if they were going surfing or swimming in the Ocean all day.
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