Sederhanakan Ucapan, Perbanyak Amal

A Muslim girl has won her battle against her former school after a court ruled that teachers had been wrong to bar her for wearing a traditional gown.

Shabina Begum, 16, accused Denbigh High School in Luton, Bedfordshire, of denying her right to education and to show her religious beliefs.

The Court Of Appeal agreed with her, and also ruled that her school had acted unlawfully in excluding her.

Shabina has now moved to another school where her “jilbab” dress is allowed.

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The judge in her case called for more guidance for schools about dress codes and pupils’ human rights.

The decision marks the end of a long battle for Shabina and she also had to deal with the death of her mum in 2004. Her dad died 12 years ago.

She started wearing her jilbab to school in September 2002 and was excluded shortly afterwards, with the school saying the dress posed a safety risk.

Click here to see pix of traditional Muslim clothes

In June 2004, the High Court backed the decision to exclude Shabina, but she took her case to the Court Of Appeal, which reversed the judgement.

Outside the court, Shabina said: “Today’s decision is a victory for all Muslims who wish to preserve their identity and values despite prejudice and bigotry.”
“Today’s decision is a victory for all Muslims who wish to preserve their identity and values despite prejudice and bigotry.

“The decision of Denbigh High School to prevent my adherence to my religion cannot unfortunately be viewed as merely a local decision taken in isolation.

“Rather it was a consequence of an atmosphere that has been created in Western societies post 9/11, an atmosphere in which Islam has been made a target for vilification in the name of the `war on terror’.”