The Michaela Community School in London, an establishment renowned for its strict rules, won its case on Tuesday April 16 against a Muslim student who challenged the ban on performing her prayers in the establishment.
The Michaela Community School, located in Wembley, northwest London, won its case on Tuesday against a Muslim student who challenged a ban on her praying in the school.
The student had in fact considered that this ban went against his religious freedom. Claiming to be the victim of a discriminatory policy, the student therefore sued the school, known for its very strict rules, before the High Court of Justice.
At trial, she argued that the school’s position went against her religious freedom. For the student, whose comments were relayed by AFP, it is a âkind of discrimination which makes religious minorities feel alienated from societyâ. The school, for its part, considered that the prayers harmed âinclusionâ between students, explaining that they are prohibited due to âa cultural changeâ marked by âsegregation between religious groups and intimidationâ among Muslim students.
âA victory for all schoolsâ
The judge ultimately ruled in favor of the Michaela Community School noting âa rational connection between the schoolâs goal of promoting team spirit, inclusiveness, social cohesion and the policy regarding the prayer ritualâ . âThe disadvantage caused to Muslim students by the school’s policy on prayer is in my view outweighed by the objective of promoting the interests of the entire school (students), including Muslims,â added the magistrate.
Reacting to the decision of the High Court of Justice, the director of the establishment Katharine Birbalsingh welcomed a âvictory for all schoolsâ. âA school should be free to do what is right for its students,â she wrote in a long statement published on the social network X.
Britain’s education minister, Gillian Keegan, welcomed the ruling, saying school leaders “are best placed to make decisions about their school.”
âMichaela is an excellent school and I hope this judgment will give school principals the confidence to make good decisions for their students,â he said.