{UAH} Catholic primary school bans four-year-old Muslim girl from wearing a hijab

Catholic primary school bans four-year-old Muslim girl from wearing a hijab

The issue has split debate in the local community, with one Birmingham City councillor arguing the ban is in violation of the equalities act

• Rachael Pells Education Correspondent
• 
  

The Government has no say over uniform policies as such. Rather, it is left to individual schools to decide what religious attire is allowed to be worn

A uniform row has broken out at a Roman Catholic school near Birmingham, after a four-year old Muslim girl was banned from wearing a religious headscarf in class.

Teachers at St Clare's School in Handsworth asked the girl's parents to respect their strict uniform policy, which does not allow for headwear or scarfs, the Birmingham Mail reported.

The primary school's decision has been widely criticised by the local community, dividing local opinion after the pupil's father contacted sought external advice.

Waseem Zaffar, Birmingham City Council's Labour cabinet member for equalities, said he had met with the school's head teacher and told her the ban was in violation of the equalities act.

He said: "I'm insisting this matter is addressed [as soon as possible] with a change of policy."

However, his colleague Majid Mahmood said that since it is a faith school, St Clare's is "maybe within its rights to insist upon a particular dress code," just as a Muslim faith school "may require girls to wear headscarves".

Dr Mashuq Ally, a former head of equalities for the council, pointed out there is no religious requirement for girls of infant school age to wear the hijab.  

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