A Welsh Sikh girl has won a High Court challenge to her school’s decision to exclude her for wearing a Sikh bangle to school in defiance of their ban on jewelery.
The school considered the bangle to be nothing more than an item of jewelery but the High Court ruled that it was a religious symbol and she was entitled to wear it.
Predictably, the case has been seized on by the “human rights” fanatics who are saying that it’s the first step in the fight against racial and religious discrimination.
As much as it pains me to say this, the French have got the right idea when it comes to religion and schools – they don’t mix. Schools don’t display any religious symbols, not even the crucifix. Pupils aren’t allowed to go to school in turbans, burkha’s or any other type of outwardly religious clothing or symbols.
When the BA employee sent home for wearing a crucifix took her case to court she got nowhere so what’s the difference? Other than the fact that the girl is a Sikh, there’s no difference at all. If the courts are going to make these kind of rulings then it should be applied equally to Christians as well as any other religion.
Technorati Tags: Religion, Discrimination
The legal system is partly based on precedent. Which can mean that unless something is defined clearly by the parliament, it ends up being decided by a judge.
I disagree about banning religious iconography from schools – it’s the kind of measure that will unite religious fanatics of all kinds and make ordinary people of faith feel victimised.
The frogs are definitely right on this one.
She was quite at liberty to wear it. It was outrageous that the school excluded her – anyone with even a cursory knowledge of equalities could have told them that their decision would be open to legal challenge. Anyone, of whatever age, should be able to wear religious jewellry and to practise their religion, completely unfettered.
Watching this on the news last night, the headmaster said that the advice they were given was that it was simply a matter of dress code. They may also have taken into account recent precedent a muslim girl suspended for wearing one of those head scarf things that go round their neck, a muslim teacher suspended for wearing a burkha and a christian women suspended by BA for wearing a crucifix. Those three legal challenges failed.
I really do think the French have the right idea – when you’re in school you’re there to get an education, not a religion and there is no difference in the way any child is treated or educated in school regardless of their religion.
A precedent has been set now which could pose some real problems. What happens when a muslim girl insists on only being taught in all-girl classes with a chaperone if there’s a male teacher? It will happen now the precedent has been set and there will be no justification to refuse the request. This will be a real can of worms.
what is the name of the case??
this would be helpful
It was Aberdare Girls School in July 2008 – link