My school's prayer ban was backed by Muslim clerics, Britain's strictest ... trends now
A ban on prayer rituals at a top London school was supported by senior Muslims, its headteacher has said.
Michaela Community School in Brent, north London, faced legal action from a pupil, who claimed its policy was discriminatory and unlawfully breached her right to religious freedom.
One of the five pillars of Islam is for Muslims to pray five times a day. However, the head told the court that observant Muslim pupils who missed the Dhuhr prayer could make up for it at a nearby civic centre after school.
In a judgment on Tuesday, a judge concluded the ban did not interfere with the student's rights and was 'proportionate' amid the school's aim to promote an ethos of inclusivity and social cohesion.
Katherine Birbalsingh, the high-achieving school's founder dubbed Britain's strictest headteacher, said she had spoken to the imam at the London Central Mosque and Islamic Cultural Centre after introducing the ban.
In court papers, she said the imam 'agreed with this view and offered to speak to any Muslim parents who had doubts on this point'.
Katharine Birbalsingh, dubbed Britain's strictest headteacher, introduced a prayer ban at Michaela Community School in Brent
Michaela Community School in Brent, North London, pictured earlier this week after the ruling
Speaking after the ruling on Tuesday, she went on: 'A school should be free to do what is right for the pupils it serves. The court's decision is therefore a victory for all schools.
'Schools should not be forced by one child and her mother to change its approach simply because they have decided they don't like something at the school.'
She said the school of some 700 pupils, about half of whom are Muslim, embraces 'traditional values' where 'children are happy and are friends with each other across racial and religious divides'.
Ms Birbalsingh said people are informed about its strict rules before pupils join, adding: 'If parents do not like what Michaela is, they do not need to send their children to us.'
The student, who cannot be named, said after the ruling that her school was 'very well run', had good teachers and that being involved in the case 'has not been easy for me'.
'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,' she said.
Her mother, who supported the challenge, said: 'The case was rooted in the understanding that prayer isn't just a desirable act for us - it's an essential element that shapes our lives as Muslims.
In September 2014, Ms Birbalsingh established Michaela Community School and appointed former Home Secretary Suella Braverman as the first chair of governors
Over the years, Ms Birbalsingh has made headlines for her controversial views on ' woke culture' in schools
'In our faith, prayer holds undeniable importance, guiding us through each challenge with strength and faith.'
She continued: 'My daughter's impassioned stance compelled me to support her and I stand firm in that decision.
'Her courage in pursuing this matter fills me with pride and I'm confident she's gained invaluable lessons from the experience.'
Some Muslim leaders told of their disappointment in the ruling, with Dr Abdul-Azim Ahmed, secretary general of the Muslim Council of Wales, saying the court 'hasn't defended a very well-established British principle of freedom of religion'.
At a hearing in
