UK court overturns Muslim student’s prayer ban challenge at school

By Mehmet Solmaz

BIRMINGHAM, England (AA) — A ban on prayers at one of the high-achieving state schools in England, famous for its strict discipline, has been upheld by a high court judge on Tuesday.

The case against Michaela Community School in north-west London was brought by a Muslim student, who claimed the ban was discriminatory and breached her right to religious freedom.

The ban was introduced with a policy in March 2023, after up to 30 students began praying in the school's yard due to a lack of praying area within the school building. Around half of the school's roughly 700 pupils are Muslims, the court heard.

The school lawyers claimed that students seen praying outside contributed to a "concerted campaign" on social media over the school's approach to religion.

In an 83-page written judgment, the court said: "The claimant at the very least impliedly accepted, when she enrolled at the school, that she would be subject to restrictions on her ability to manifest her religion."

Following the ruling, the student said in a statement that she was "disappointed."

"As set out in the judgment, I do not agree that it would be too hard for the school to accommodate pupils who wished to pray during the lunch break," she said.

"Even though I lost, I still feel that I did the right thing in seeking to challenge the ban. I tried my best, and was true to myself and my religion."

The student said she planned to remain at the school and focus on her high school exams.

"I am grateful for the understanding that my non-Muslim friends at school have shown as to the issues that affect us," she added.