UK schoolgirl wins right to wear Islamic dress

LONDON - A 15-year-old Bangladeshi Muslim schoolgirl in Britain won on Wednesday the right to wear full Islamic dress at school in a case at the heart of passionate debate across Europe over religious clothing.

Britain's Court of Appeal overturned a previous court ruling to find in favour of Shabina Begum's claim that her school wrongly refused to allow her to wear a jilbab, which covers the body except for the hands and face.

"What went wrong in this case was that the school failed to appreciate that by its action it was infringing on the claimant's Article 9 right to manifest her religion," Judge Scott Baker said, referring to religious freedom legislation.

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 a tunic -- which school rules allowed.

But as her interest in Islam deepened, she returned after the summer break in September 2002 wearing the jilbab and was ordered to go home and change.

Britain's main Islamic umbrella group, the Muslim Council of Britain, welcomed Wednesday's ruling.

"This is a very important ruling on the issue of personal freedoms. Many other schools have willingly accommodated Muslim schoolgirls wearing the jilbab," council head Iqbal Sacranie said in a statement.

"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. Today's judgment is a clear reflection of that common sense view."

The British case mirrors one in France, where a ban on Muslim headscarves, Jewish skullcaps and large Christian crosses being worn in schools sparked a bitter row.

- REUTERS