School child sent home for her religious beliefs

After being sent home from school for wearing a skirt that was "too long", a schoolgirl says she is being "bullied" for her religious beliefs.

 

12-year-old Siham Hamud says she was sent home from Uxbridge High School regularly throughout the December term and told to come back with a school-issue skirt.

 

Siham's father Idris, an athletics coach, said that his family "want to believe in their religion in a pure way" and follow a traditional branch of Islam which means women should only wear long skirts. Siham refused to return to class in a shorter skirt because of these beliefs, and now the school has threatened the family with legal action for her unauthorised absences.

 

Currently studying from home due to Covid Lockdown restrictions, Siham said: "It feels like bullying because of what I believe. I think they should just let me wear my school uniform to school. I like school, normally, and English, drama and RE are my favourite lessons but I couldn't attend. "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. It makes me feel left out because I can't see my friends either. They aren't accepting me for my religion and that's wrong.

 

She further commented, "I feel confused and annoyed that I can't wear what I want for my religion. I hope they'll change their rules so that girls like me wear skirts to school."

 

Idris added: "My daughter is being denied an education because of her religious beliefs. All Siham wants to do is to wear a skirt which is a few centimetres longer than her classmates – and I don't know why the school has such a problem with this. She is sent home to change into a shorter skirt then return to school later that day, but she isn't going to change her beliefs in an hour. The school is threatening to take legal action against me, but I'm not forcing her to wear a longer skirt, it's her faith and her decision to make. She used to love school, but now she goes to school crying because of this – it's heartbreaking."

 

Siham's older sisters, Sumayyah, 19, and Ilham, 17, both wore longer skirts to school without issue, but rules brought in two years ago state that school-branded skirts or trousers must be worn. Mr Hamud said the issue is due to be discussed on a complaints panel with the school governors later this month.

 

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.

 

Whitestone Solicitors

Rochdale