British high court grants Muslim girl right to wear Islamic dress in school

A Muslim girl has won the right to wear full Islamic dress at her British school in what is the latest case in Europe pitting the religious rights of minority communities against Western ways of life. Widening a gulf between Britain and continental Europe on the issue, the Court of Appeal upheld Shabina Begum's case against her school's refusal to let her wear a "jilbab", which covers the whole body except for hands and face. Speaking outside court, the 15-year old of Bangladeshi origin said she was a victim of what she called a general vilification of Islam since the 9/11 attacks. "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," she said. The ruling – which delighted groups representing Britain's 1.6 million Muslims – contrasts with France's controversial policy on the same issue. Last year, Paris banned all conspicuous religious clothing or symbols in state schools, including Muslim headscarves, Jewish skullcaps and large Christian crosses. Elsewhere in Europe, some German states have banned Muslim teachers in state schools from wearing headscarves. Belgium plans to ban overt religious symbols for civil servants dealing with the public.