Katharine Birbalsingh statement on current Michaela School Prayer Room High Court case

 The case reported yesterday on Wembley Matters continues today. Katharine Birbalsingh has issued the statement below:

Judge rules that Michaela School can be named at High Court hearing on alleged prayer ban

 Schools Week LINK reports today the Michaela Free School's request that the school not be named was reject edby Judge Linden in today's High Court hearing regarding a Judicial Review requested on behalf of a pupil.

The Judicial Review is over the alleged banning of Muslim pupils from taking part in prayer rituals at the school that resulted in a public petition with more than 4,000 signatories in March 2023. LINK

Judge Linden said:

I do not accept the that the evidence in this case shows a risk to the lives or safety of members of the school staff or its wider community which would justify holding this hearing in private.

The petition is no longer on the Change.org website but said in part regarding the alleged ban:

A school that prides itself on being “multi cultural” and “multi faith” is treating their Muslim students in this way?? What’s worse is that this school is majority Muslim students and there is no prayer room designated for them. Students have requested for a prayer room which has  been refused by the school and so they have to pray on the floor outside.

 Judge Linden accepted the application for the claimant, a pupil, to be referred to as “TTT”  and another person involved in the litigation, to be referred to as “UUU”.

 

As the hearing is in progress I will not publish any comments until the case is over.