'Jilbaab Becomes Impediment to Education for Muslim Girl’

Shabina Begum 15, was amongst the most gifted pupils at Denbigh High School in Luton, top of her class in Maths and having an avid interest in Science with aspirations of becoming a doctor. However, in September 2002, on the first day back at school after summer recess, her zeal for education came across a stumbling block: Her Year Head pointed out that she needed to go back home and change, as her loose, ankle-length attire (Jilbaab) was not acceptable as school uniform. In an exclusive interview with the Muslim Weekly Shabina shares her concerns with us.

Rules at the school oblige students - 80 percent of whom are Muslim –(Headmistress being Muslim too) to wear a uniform, or salwar kameez, baggy trousers with a long shirt common in the Indian Sub-continent. In previous years, she had worn a salwar kameez to school, but her deepening interest in her religion led to her wearing the Jilbaab.

Failure of mediation in the ensuing period has led to Shabina taking the Local Education Authority to court for denying her education. Her lawyers lodged papers at the Royal Courts of Justice in London, and these will now go before a single judge who will decide whether she has an "arguable case" to seek judicial review. The Children's legal centre at the University of Essex are arguing Shabina's right to practice her religion is being infringed unlawfully while also being in breach of the European Convention on Human Rights.

At first glance, it appears that Shabina’s case is rare to say the least. However, further research shows that there have been other cases of this nature in this country. Just that they haven’t transpired into long drawn out affairs (Shabina hasn’t had formal education now for more than eighteen months), rather that the pupils have wilted to school demands to conform to their uniform irrespective of their religious/cultural sensibilities. This isn’t to say that there aren’t any state schools which allow the Jilbaab, indeed, they do exist.

Thus, the supposed uniqueness of Shabina Begum’s stance has certainly perked the eyes and ears of the media at large. In the past week or so, she has given more than ten interviews to various mainstream print and broadcast media. It may come as no surprise to some, that there appeared to be a common thread in terms of the questions that were asked of her. Hereby are a few examples: (Shabina’s responses are indicated by an R:

1)You brought this on yourself ……….
R: It is not a matter of choice-its an obligation on me as set in the Holy Quran (n.b. readers may refer to Surah Ahzaab Ayah 59)
2) Don’t you think that this is an extreme view?
R: That is simply a labelling device, devoid of reason.
3) What do you think of all those people that dont wear Jilbaab?
R: There is no force and compulsion in religion, it is imperative that we understand the commands of our creator.

I noticed that even though Shabina was frustrated at not being able to pursue her education in the manner that one would expect, she nevertheless displayed a calm and thoughtful exterior beckoning to reason. Explaining how, despite being firm and resolute in her belief, she discussed many options with the school including: studying at the school in isolation while the matter was being resolved, coming in on non-uniform day (she alleges that she was refused entry), getting home tuition etc.

Furthermore, she showed me four signed statements declaring her dress code to be the bona fida Islamic dress for a woman. Two were from prominent mosques in Luton, one from Regents Park, London and another from the Centre for Islamic Studies in Birmingham. The question that is repeatedly on her mind is, “I wish to practice my religion, do I have that right? I feel a sense of personal discrimination and a push as if I need to rejoin a particular flock of sheep”

Moving on to the school now, I found it difficult to get an opinion from them (not surprising considering it is half-term after all). Nevertheless, the LEA (local education authority) came to my rescue by issuing me a statement which went to great pains to explain that Denbigh High is a multiracial, multifaith school and has a flexible uniform policy designed to accommodate the needs of all its pupils. It described how many years ago the school adopted a dress code which took into account the cultural and religious sensitivities of pupils at the school. (possibly time for a review?)

In relation to Shabina Begum, the school, its governors and the local education authority had "bent over backwards" to find a solution. (Bear in mind, she was told that the Jilbaab was unsuitable on health and safety grounds: they feared children would trip over the garment).

Importantly, the LEA added that there is no question of the pupil needing to be reinstated in the school or of her having been excluded. The pupil has at all times been provided with a place at the school which she has, on numerous occasions, been invited and encouraged to attend. It is the pupil who has chosen to absent herself.

Needless to say, the education authority, said it would fight the case against it.

In conclusion, (It is hard to draw a conclusion!) this issue does appear to have taken a very long course and one thing is for certain; In terms of a community, we have yet to learn a lot from each other and perhaps an opportune moment is here for us (Muslims and Non-muslims alike) to foster better relations between ourselves as it’s to our mutual benefit. The loss of education to a bright young pupil such as Shabina Begum cannot only be measured in terms of her personal loss but if she cant fulfil her aspiration to become a doctor, then a whole community could possibly be deprived of an essential contributor to its welfare.(readers may be aware of the acute shortage of medical doctors in this country, current and looming) Therefore, this whole saga being quantified as a potential loss to society.

Over what? A matter of a few inches of cloth………?

So was Shabina thinking about playing football in the corridors of Denbigh High?

Deprived of social mixing atmosphere
Dedicated friends have been updating her, giving her materials etc.
-She would like to go back to school as soon as possible