"Denying my right to pray is denying my identity to be a Muslim"

British imam and presenter Ajmal Masroor criticised a school's decision to ban a Muslim student from praying, arguing that if a school is avowedly secular, would they also ban Christmas or Easter holidays or the national anthem that includes religious references? He asserts that denying Muslims the right to pray fundamentally breaches human rights.

This criticism follows a decision by Michaela Community School in northwest London to ban a British Muslim student from prayer rituals. The student challenged the school in a High Court case about freedom of religion, which garnered national attention.

The student argued that the school's policy was discriminatory and unfairly targeted her faith due to its ritualistic practices. She argued that the school's prohibition on prayer, a fundamental aspect of Islam, contributed to the alienation of religious minorities in society.

The court heard that the student, identified only as TTT, requested a modest accommodation to pray for approximately five minutes during lunchtime on specific religious dates, without disrupting regular classes. Additionally, she contested what she described were unjust disciplinary actions resulting in temporary suspensions from school.

In response, the school defended its prayer policy as "justified" and "proportionate," citing past threats of violence linked to religious observance on site.


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