A Good Victory for Common Sense
It is refreshing to know that good judgement and common sense still prevails in the courts in Britain. I’m referring here to the case of Shabina Begum, the young Muslim girl who took her school, Denbigh High School in Luton, to court over their refusal to allow her to wear a full length Islamic dress called a jilbab. Her claim was that the school acted in "violation of her human rights and denied her right to education".
The Law Lords in Britain’s highest court ruled in favour of the school and rightly so. Had the decision been in favour of Shabina, it would force every school in Britain to allow their pupils to dictate to them, what dress code is appropriate for their religion. Further more, it would seriously undermine the authority of schools and be a huge victory for radical religious groups.
This case had very little to do with human rights or the right to practice one's religion. It was merely another example of radical thinkers trying to enforce their rule in a secular land and also a case of turning a young girl into a political pawn.
Shabina has been supported by her brother and members of the radical Muslim group Hizb ut-Tahrir – a group that wants Britain to be ruled by the Shariat Islamic law. One of the lawyers, representing her in court was Cherie Blair QC. It does make you wonder, whether the young lady actually does have a mind of her own, or whether, she is just the poster girl behind a radical campaign. A campaign that could have significant political gain.
I watched Shabina being interviewed on GMTV, and in her interview she said "I'm an intelligent girl, and no one tells me what to do." Yet she was unable to answer so many of the basic questions posed to her and kept looking at her lawyer to bail her out. She seemed like a puppet whose whose strings were being pulled and whose lines were carefully rehearsed. A far cry from the image of a girl speaking her mind.
Her lawyer kept insisting that the case was about a violation of human rights. The lawyer, quite frankly, needs both her intelligence and her motives questioned. She failed to solidify her argument about how this constitutes a human rights violation, despite the fact that she had ample opportunity to do so. And I beg to differ on all her arguments about the case.
The suggestion that the school denied her right to education and violated her human rights by failing to allow her the freedom to practice her religion is ludicrous.
If anything, Denbigh High accommodated the needs of its largely Muslim population by the introduction of the Shalwar Khameez – a uniform that Shabina’s family were well aware of when they enrolled her there, a uniform that she happily wore for two years before she decided that the jilbab needed to be introduced. Also, if the Shalwar Khameez as a uniform, does not meet the requirements of Islam, why then, did none of the other Muslim students (I believe the number is over a 1000) or the Head Teacher who herself is Muslim, raise any objections? Why was Shabina the only one with a problem?
The truth is, no one denied Shabina the right to an education. She took that right away from herself when she made a decision to leave Denbigh High that day. She cannot blame her school for denying her an education, seeing as how she made little or no effort in the past two years since her legal battle began, to enrol in any of the other schools in her area, where the jilbab is an accepted uniform. No the decision not to be educated was one taken by her or more worryingly, her radical family.
The point of having uniforms in schools is to provide a sense of uniformity, equality both in dress and education. Equality to all students, irrespective of race, religion or economic circumstances. The job of a student is to learn, not to challenge or undermine the school’s authority. Schools are the playgrounds for learning, not the battlefields for religious dominance.
I grew up in a country where I was part of a minority religion. And I do understand inbuilt, subtle and obvious prejudices against minority groups. But what I fail to understand is the sheer hypocrisy of radical religious groups.
These are people who chose to make a home for themselves and their families in Britain. They were not refugees, nor were they people who were forced to be here. They came here of their own free will. It really infuriates me to see them readily grabbing all the benefits and opportunities that Britain has to provide. Yet they have absolutely no sense of responsibility, duty or loyalty towards to this country. They would much rather bite the hand that feeds them.
One of the beautiful things about modern Britain is that is it a colourful, secular nation and it should remain one without being forced by radicals to succumb to any particular religious law. If these people are unhappy with what Britain has to provide, then I suggest they gather their families together, pack their bags and buy themselves a one way ticket to a country where their law is the law of the land. Perhaps they will be happier there. And when that happens, I know a lot of us would be safer and happier here.
The Law Lords in Britain’s highest court ruled in favour of the school and rightly so. Had the decision been in favour of Shabina, it would force every school in Britain to allow their pupils to dictate to them, what dress code is appropriate for their religion. Further more, it would seriously undermine the authority of schools and be a huge victory for radical religious groups.
This case had very little to do with human rights or the right to practice one's religion. It was merely another example of radical thinkers trying to enforce their rule in a secular land and also a case of turning a young girl into a political pawn.
Shabina has been supported by her brother and members of the radical Muslim group Hizb ut-Tahrir – a group that wants Britain to be ruled by the Shariat Islamic law. One of the lawyers, representing her in court was Cherie Blair QC. It does make you wonder, whether the young lady actually does have a mind of her own, or whether, she is just the poster girl behind a radical campaign. A campaign that could have significant political gain.
I watched Shabina being interviewed on GMTV, and in her interview she said "I'm an intelligent girl, and no one tells me what to do." Yet she was unable to answer so many of the basic questions posed to her and kept looking at her lawyer to bail her out. She seemed like a puppet whose whose strings were being pulled and whose lines were carefully rehearsed. A far cry from the image of a girl speaking her mind.
Her lawyer kept insisting that the case was about a violation of human rights. The lawyer, quite frankly, needs both her intelligence and her motives questioned. She failed to solidify her argument about how this constitutes a human rights violation, despite the fact that she had ample opportunity to do so. And I beg to differ on all her arguments about the case.
The suggestion that the school denied her right to education and violated her human rights by failing to allow her the freedom to practice her religion is ludicrous.
If anything, Denbigh High accommodated the needs of its largely Muslim population by the introduction of the Shalwar Khameez – a uniform that Shabina’s family were well aware of when they enrolled her there, a uniform that she happily wore for two years before she decided that the jilbab needed to be introduced. Also, if the Shalwar Khameez as a uniform, does not meet the requirements of Islam, why then, did none of the other Muslim students (I believe the number is over a 1000) or the Head Teacher who herself is Muslim, raise any objections? Why was Shabina the only one with a problem?
The truth is, no one denied Shabina the right to an education. She took that right away from herself when she made a decision to leave Denbigh High that day. She cannot blame her school for denying her an education, seeing as how she made little or no effort in the past two years since her legal battle began, to enrol in any of the other schools in her area, where the jilbab is an accepted uniform. No the decision not to be educated was one taken by her or more worryingly, her radical family.
The point of having uniforms in schools is to provide a sense of uniformity, equality both in dress and education. Equality to all students, irrespective of race, religion or economic circumstances. The job of a student is to learn, not to challenge or undermine the school’s authority. Schools are the playgrounds for learning, not the battlefields for religious dominance.
I grew up in a country where I was part of a minority religion. And I do understand inbuilt, subtle and obvious prejudices against minority groups. But what I fail to understand is the sheer hypocrisy of radical religious groups.
These are people who chose to make a home for themselves and their families in Britain. They were not refugees, nor were they people who were forced to be here. They came here of their own free will. It really infuriates me to see them readily grabbing all the benefits and opportunities that Britain has to provide. Yet they have absolutely no sense of responsibility, duty or loyalty towards to this country. They would much rather bite the hand that feeds them.
One of the beautiful things about modern Britain is that is it a colourful, secular nation and it should remain one without being forced by radicals to succumb to any particular religious law. If these people are unhappy with what Britain has to provide, then I suggest they gather their families together, pack their bags and buy themselves a one way ticket to a country where their law is the law of the land. Perhaps they will be happier there. And when that happens, I know a lot of us would be safer and happier here.
Comments
Very impressive article.
Very impressed with your article and fully agree with you. This is Britain and religion is a personal issue and should not be forced down peoples throats.