Michaela school will keep its prayer ban – but as a Muslim teacher I know it doesn’t have to be this way | Nadeine Asbali

A student who follows the Muslim faith at Michaela community school situated in Brent, located in north-west London, unsuccessfully challenged the school's decision to prohibit prayer rituals through a high court case. As a secondary school educator who also identifies as a Muslim, I must admit that I am disheartened, but not taken aback.

The request to reconsider was denied because the school categorizes itself as being non-religious. The principal, Katharine Birbalsingh, makes sure to inform all parents and pupils about this when they register. Mr Justice Linden stated in the official decision rejecting the student's appeal that: "The individual making the claim understood, at the bare minimum, that she would have to comply with limitations on expressing her religion upon enrolling at the school."

However, this issue extends beyond merely questioning the legality of a school's ability to enforce its own regulations. It's important to analyze why educational institutions, such as Michaela, adopt a strongly secular approach to their role.

Should a school located in Brent, where 50% of the student body is Muslim, maintain a strict policy of secularism that doesn't acknowledge a key aspect of the cultural identity of half its students? Moreover, teachers are obliged by law to encourage the growth of their students' spiritual, moral, social, and cultural foundations and are also urged to teach British universal values that stress the importance of freedom of expression and faith. So, why prevent students from having a mere five-minute period of personal spiritual observance?

It's ironic that schools in the UK aren't typically secular. Actually, they have to offer a chance for collective worship every day that should generally be Christian (for schools that don't have a specific religion) - but some schools choose not to. Everywhere in the country, kids are happy to participate in activities based on religion, such as singing hymns and performing in Christmas plays, or having assemblies for Diwali and Hanukkah. It doesn't make sense for a stubborn French-style secularism to make its way into our classrooms, especially since it goes against the experiences of many teachers working in our diverse country.

I have experience teaching in schools with diverse religious backgrounds, ranging from being the only Muslim to being in a school with mostly Muslim students. Throughout my teaching experiences, I have never encountered issues with prayer. Although Birbalsingh describes a tense environment where students were divided based on their faith, I have seen the opposite. Students ask complex questions about theology and pause football games for a quick prayer. They learn how to coexist with peers from different backgrounds. It is essential to avoid a system that suppresses these differences, where diversity is shunned and concealed.

The court ruled that the ban on prayer at Michaela school is discriminatory towards Muslims who practice prayer regularly. However, the student who challenged the ban lost because she has the option to attend a school where prayer is allowed. It may seem like parents have the freedom to choose their child's school, but in truth, it isn't that simple. Michaela school has a strong academic record and students excel there. This makes it difficult for families from low-income backgrounds, which is often the case for Muslim families, to choose between their child's education and their religious beliefs. It's not fair to put these families in this position, and it sends a negative message about the integration of Muslims in British society if religious expression comes at the expense of education.

As a Muslim, I have noticed that the UK has a worrying habit of causing unnecessary fear and discrimination towards us. The recent court decision cannot be considered without also considering the ongoing issue of Islamophobia in society. The school's justification for the ban, claiming that students felt pressured to pray or wear the hijab, highlights how Muslim children are unfairly seen as potential threats due to the Prevent program.

It is becoming more common for simple displays of Muslim culture to be seen as extreme or against British values, and by supporting the ban on Michaela's headscarf, it reinforces the notion that we must give up certain aspects of our identity in order to be considered British. Unfortunately, this burden falls heaviest on Muslims.

Nadeine Asbali works as a secondary school educator in London. She has written a book named Veiled Threat: On Being Visibly Muslim in Britain.

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