A Muslim girl’s parents have been issued with legal notice for refusing to send her to attend school with skirt shorten than the knee as it goes against her ‘religious belief’.
The Uxbridge High School authorities have issued notice to the parents as Siham Hamud, 12, has been wearing a ankle-length skirt to her school for years. She was often sent back from school to change but she refused.
The notice read: “Siham’s absence is being recorded as unauthorised. Unauthorised absence may result in a fine being issued, or legal action being taken against the adults who have parental responsibility or day-to-day care of your child.”
“Legal action can be in the form of a penalty notice or a summons to the magistrates’ court,” it further added.
While Siham claims that she feel “bullied” by the school for her religious beliefs, her parents- Idris Hamud and Salma Yusuf- said that they were unaware of such school rules.
Her father also asserted that the uniform choices contravene the family’s strict religious beliefs. The family also said they follow the traditional branch of Islam which bars women from wearing short skirts.
Siham, who currently attends online classes due to Covid-induced lockdown norms, said “I find it annoying because I’ve missed a month of school, so I have to catch up a lot. I wish I could just have gone to school as normal.”
Siham’s two older sisters- Sumayyah and Ilham- too have worn long skirts to their schools without any restrictions. Upon her school uniform rules, Siham said: “I hope they’ll change their rules so that girls like me wear skirts to school.”
Uxbridge High School says girls should wear black trousers or a black pleated skirt from official uniform suppliers.
Siham father, who is a coach said, “My daughter is being denied an education because of her religious beliefs.”
The issue will be taken up once the schools resume.
School principal Nigel Clemens said, “‘This matter is currently subject to examination through the formal school complaints policy. It would therefore not be appropriate to comment further at this time.”
