Breaking News: Sarika Singh Wins Kara Case in UK High Court
Some of you may have followed the case of Sarika Singh, a Welsh-Sikh student who was barred from school when the organization adopted a dress code that prohibited wearing jewelry, including religious items. Instead of conforming to the dress code or transferring schools, Singh appealed to the school. When officials refused to reverse their decision or provide exception for the kara (not an item of jewelry, but rather an article of faith), Singh sued under the UK’s anti-discrimination laws. She has been excluded from classes and from attending school for the past nine months.
Moments ago, the BBC reported that the UK’s High Court affirmed her case, stating that the dress code unfairly burdened Singh’s freedom of religious expression. Both advocates and the court expressed frustration with the school, stating that the issue had been clearly defined in U.K. statutes and case law for over 20 years. This judgment opens the door for students of all religious backgrounds; in addition to the banning of the kara, other UK (private) schools have moved to ban the crucifix, the hijab, and the yarmulke. Against this “confining” interpretation of secularism (an interpretation more common on the European continent), the UK courts have clarified the intent of the country’s inclusionary and anti-discriminatory legal framework.
We’ll continue to update with details and analysis as information becomes available.
6 Responses to “Breaking News: Sarika Singh Wins Kara Case in UK High Court”
interesting. this and a recent case out of belgium are in line with the interpreation that individuals have a strong "freedom to practice religion," rather than the "freedom from religion" secular conception in france. as they're all members of the EU, the EU has a charter on religious rights, the european convention on human rights, which has now been interpreted inapposite by britain and france on the one hand, and france on the other. i wonder how this might influence things in france. oh noes! another discussion of sovreignty and and a multi-national governing body? i'll stop here.
interesting. this and a recent case out of belgium are in line with the interpreation that individuals have a strong “freedom to practice religion,” rather than the “freedom from religion” secular conception in france. as they’re all members of the EU, the EU has a charter on religious rights, the european convention on human rights, which has now been interpreted inapposite by britain and france on the one hand, and france on the other. i wonder how this might influence things in france. oh noes! another discussion of sovreignty and and a multi-national governing body? i’ll stop here.
Very nice.
Very nice.
[…] private schools are taking at this juncture to avoid accommodating religious minorities. Like the Sarika Singh case (also involving a private school), both of these schools are, at this point, familiar with its […]
I just hate the way the newscasters reveals the news as they spread the news in really the bad manners and they just tries their best to spread the threat in the public. They should adopt at least the good way to reveal the news in the public.