Schoolgirl wins right to wear Islamic dress

A 15-year-old Muslim girl yesterday won the right to wear full Islamic dress at her British school.

The Court of Appeal upheld Shabina Begum's case against her school's refusal to let her wear a jilbab, whi-ch covers the whole body except for the hands and face.

Outside court, Begum, of Bangladeshi origin, said she was a victim of a general vilification of Islam since the September 11, 2001, attacks on the United States.

"As a young woman growing up in post-9/11 Britain, I have witnessed a great deal of bigotry from the media, politicians and legal officials," Begum said outside court.

"This bigotry resulted from my choice to wear a piece of cloth ... It is amazing that in the so-called free world I have to fight to wear this Islamic dress."

The ruling, which delighted British Muslim groups, contrasted with France's controversial stand on the same issue.

Last year, France banned all conspicuous religious clothing or symbols in state schools, including Muslim headscarves, Jewish skullcaps and large Christian crosses.

Some German states have barred Muslim teachers in state schools from wearing headscarves. Belgium plans to ban overt religious symbols for civil servants dealing with the public.

The European Court of Human Rights ruled last year that Turkey, the only majority Muslim country with a secular constitution, could legally ban Islamic headscarves at its universities to defend public order.

The three-judge panel found that Britain's High Court, in rejecting Begum's case last year, had denied her rights under European human rights legislation.

"The school failed to appreciate that by its action it was infringing on the claimant's Article 9 right to manifest her religion," said Judge Scott Baker.

Begum started at Denbigh High School in Luton, north of London, in September 2000, and at first wore a shalwar kameez consisting of trousers and tunic which school rules allowed.

But as her interest in Islam deepened, she returned in September 2002 with a jilbab and was told to go home and change.

"Our belief in our faith is the one thing that makes sense in a world gone mad. A world where Muslim women, from Uzbekistan to Turkey, are feeling the brunt of policies guided by Western governments," Begum said yesterday.

"I hope, therefore, that my small victory to gain an education brings hope to millions of Muslim women round the world."

The main group for Britain's 1.6 million-strong Islamic community the Muslim Council of Britain welcomed the decision.

"Those that believe and choose to wear the jilbab and consider it to be part of their faith's requirement for modest attire should be respected," council head Iqbal Sacranie said.

Britain's High Court had last year rejected Begum's argument that her human rights were being breached.