[Video] Katharine Birbalsingh: Headteacher’s prayer ban ‘lawful’ ...The Standard podcast

Click this link to find The Standard podcast on Apple, Spotify or wherever you find your podcasts: lnk.to/s1eXPw
A high court judge has ruled that a prayer ban at one of the highest-performing state schools in England run by ‘Britain’s strictest headteacher’ - was not unlawful.
Katharine Birbalsingh, who founded Michaela Community School, a free school in Brent, said she introduced the prayer ban in March last year, “against a backdrop of events including violence, intimidation and appalling racial harassment of teachers”.
A Muslim pupil, who cannot be named, claimed the prayer policy was discriminatory and breached their right to religious freedom.
Following the decision, Birbalsingh said in a post on social media that the ruling was a "victory for all schools".
The Evening Standard’s Education Editor Anna Davis shares her insight and analysis.
You can listen to the episode in the player above, find us on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Subscribe to the Evening Standard: bit.ly/Subscribe-to-Evening-S...
for latest breaking news from the UK, US and around the world, plus podcasts and features.
Evening Standard on socials:
Check out our full video catalog: / londoneveningstandard
Videos, daily editorial and more: www.standard.co.uk/
Like us on Facebook: www. eveningstandard
Follow us on Twitter: / eveningstandard
and Instagram: / evening.standard

[@mohammed-nf7vb]

As a British Muslim,dad I respect the Court's decision.

[@paulcheeseman9307]

Another case of a Muslim trying to change someone else's rules. For once the law doesn't bow to these agitators....

[@erichunt2059]

school is for learning, and the church is for praying.

[@MichElle-zc9tu]

this is about pagan lunar crazy gawd hubal not about Church!

[@20OI101]

Some common sense in the country at last.

[@digitd4663]

What has that mother done to her child by going ahead with this case?

[@brandyhaywood6256]

Probably being funded by legal aid??? And absolute waste of public money and judicial time. A stupid stupid pupil who is ideologically captured and is set on destroying this country in some way, as she's been told to do. I hope she was expelled from thd school and no other school will take her. Bad behaviour has consequences.

[@LS-xs7sg]

She is seeking to further her religion and the interests of her group. Native Britons should be acting in exactly the same way. The school won a victory but the country will lose the war. You can’t maintain a neutral space (secular liberal democracy) against a positive entity (Islam)

[@josephfelts6560]

Good point, it was her mother who took the case to court, who was appalled when she heard about the ban from her daughter.

[@mkodyChallengesYOu]

Pray during lunch break ??? I caught that much ! She denied prayers during break time during free roam time in school?

[@LeeKelly-dj4rf]

@@LS-xs7sgno, Muslims should respect the laws of the UK, if you want to practice your religion that’s fine, but we live in a secular society not a religious theocracy, I have no problem with Muslims practicing their faith but do it either at home or a Mosque not in Schools..

[@janelindsey7445]

If only we had more headteachers like Katharine Birbalsingh our schools would be in a much better place...

[@user-fr2ib1ic6x]

You're a bit thick aren't you, 1 in 8 schools are in a funding deficit! Is the likes of Katherine going to fill up the coffers for her school budget..

[@gooderspitman8052]

Hurray, for once the judiciary got it correct.

[@Onlyhuman1972]

Your hate blinds you

[@CL-vz6ch]

Keep religion out of schools. Schools are for learning about important things, not about whether or not a magic person lives in the sky and which magic sky god is best.

[@Onlyhuman1972]

Do they celebrate Christmas 🎄 in that school? If yes, then this hypocrisy

[@nickoteen3329]

So working on this principle, we can now stop being fed Halal food, prayer rooms can be removed from hospitals, work places and airports. Equality means the same treatment for everyone, and let’s not forget we live in England 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

[@BLUEDOOM125]

well said!!!

[@hqs7853]

We live in England therefore we are tolerant of other religions. I suppose you now want the Church of england banned too for praying? Ridiculous.

[@ArawPlayz]

what are you on about... what is wrong with halal food and prayer rooms?

[@MarkGarbettLlanigan]

Given that halal food is exactly the same as any other food except that it is blessed, why does eating halal food upset you so much?

[@_Beamish]

No-one forces you to do any of those things.

[@josephfelts6560]

"If parents do not like what Michaela is, they do not need to send their children to us." - would have thought such a statement would not be necessary. I understand the ban was made after the pupil in question had joined the school. The thing was the pupil was unsure if, being a Muslim, she should have her time and place to pray at school as necessary. The High Court found there was no legal requirement for the school to do so, and to add, the pupil was aware of no time set for prayers and had made up for missing out later on at home. The pupil said : "Even though I lost, I still feel that I did the right thing in seeking to challenge the ban. I tried my best, and was true to myself and my religion." And that was all. She felt it was a breach of her right under Article 9 of the European Convention on Human Rights and the court found it was not. Religion is appreciated, but it is not as fully accommodated all round as one may wish it to be, and those places should be equally appreciated. I don't see the verdict as a big deal. Th school and the pupil will continue as before, a point has been established, and we're all moving on as grown ups. The pupil has not missed out heavily as a result, I think the judgement was fair. One reply below referred to 'war' over the verdict, which I felt was unnecessary, and inappropriate.

[@hitnrunguy9203]

Leave your imaginary friends at home.

[@shazadaziz6593]

Do u have a brain ?

[@hitnrunguy9203]

@@shazadaziz6593 Bless

[@shazadaziz6593]

@@hitnrunguy9203 bless or yes lol

[@musik102]

Get religion - all religions - out of the work place, schools, hospitals etc and have it restricted to private homes and churches, mosques etc. And, if some religions don't like that, then move somewhere were they do like it!

[@Christine-hr8in]

Like india.

[@zahradelprey]

Then do the same for all other movements and ideologies. But you wont do that.

[@Bertrum123]

​@@zahradelpreydidnt you listen to what she said she said all .

[@Kings_New_Clothese]

Join the National Secular Society.

[@Cheximus]

@@zahradelprey He said religion. Why should movements and ideologies be lumped in with that? You generally don't brainwash and physically mutilate your own children for a movement.

[@shsal3783]

Me Dad says that ONCE UPON A TIME "IRAQ HAD THE WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTIONS..." INNAY

[@panjtani51214721]

Where are they

[@555beijaflor]

Learn how to speak English !!

[@shsal3783]

@@panjtani51214721 awaiting to see when Tony Blair will get trialed!!!!!

[@fatbardhakryeziu620]

The best victory ever for identity of this country ❤

[@tinatina1104]

Of course it’s lawful. Many years ago British school assemblies where we all sang hymns was banned. One out all out I’d say.

[@MichElle-zc9tu]

True and sad. But remember, Christ out, crises in and this is exactly what is happening. Have fun now.

[@taiwizwow5081]

They prayers won’t better the grades

[@againstall4agsandtrans511]

But pride flags will? Hmm strange 🤔

[@craiggibbs1892]

Well done Kathrine , at last some common sense in this country.

[@hyderally8045]

How does kids praying in their free time, away from the crowd, make you lose your common sense?

[@mubashirkhan6881]

​@@hyderally8045 these islamophobes just have blind hatred

[@PrivateWalker]

​@@hyderally8045 Better go & ask them!

[@juliawigger9796]

Justice at last. Time for these minority groups to know their place.

[@PureJoyJoyPure]

I am a Christian (practising) and i agree with this ruling. Performative religion is not faith, its political showmanship. This case had nothing to do with exercising ones faith sensibly but it was about showing off. You can pray when you get home and not make other students feel uncomfortable or threatened. Faith should be used to unite not divide by politicising it.

[@martinpatterson3417]

Says the person announcing that they are a practicing Christian to the internet Thanks for the example of performative religion.

[@milmil8386]

How can you make multiculturalism work by allowing people to segregate by demanding to stick to their rules only.

[@lilacscentedfushias1852]

That’s exactly why they ban it, same with school lunch, it’s vegetarian and everyone eats it together

[@andyhughes8433]

We must make our beautiful country vegan again

[@SirDeeznuts]

Very good ❤

[@shilpamanoharan8381]

Really glad about the outcome

[@Joker-yw9hl]

It's a secular school. Of course they have the right to reject prayer rooms. It's not anti-Muslim. It's for all religions

[@kaystar1844]

So then why does she only have vegetarian food at lunch time? So her majority Hindu kids can feel inclusive? Wheres the pork or beef? Sorry but it's double standard.

[@blazer9547]

It should be changed too. Hindus can go back to india to eat exclusively vegetarian food.​@@kaystar1844

[@davidioanhedges]

When some students are Christian but a minority, others are from other religions, and probably the majority are of no religion like the rest of the country ... ...why is this even slightly controversial

[@againstall4agsandtrans511]

But pride flags are allowed 🤨

[@resurgam75]

Are you an AI account?

[@charlesunderwood6334]

And so they should be. They are not training children in superstition but helping them understand the real world and themselves.

[@martinpatterson3417]

Why shouldn't they be allowed?

[@zahradelprey]

@@charlesunderwood6334its still a political agenda and trying to impose your beliefs on other individuals. Matt walsh and others from the daily wire would agree on this as well. If youre going to ban one thing because your mantra is for children to go to school and learn, then ban all things that arent a part of the curriculum.

[@The_Last_Norman]

​@charlesunderwood6334 And teaching that a man can become a women isn't completely made up either?

[@user-ho3ry7rn1d]

Deny prayer but encourage ur child to identify as a goat, lovely.

[@Kings_New_Clothese]

I think you will find that is the last thing this school will allow.

[@livelife5947]

Send your kids to a secular school, then sue the school for being secular.

[@roberthall737]

There is as much evidence for any god of any religion as Spider man. In fact today I think spider man has better movies.

[@roystone9932]

This Head teacher has excellent teaching standards that should be implemented in ALL our schools . If ANY parent that want's their child to be taught in line with their faith then they are more than welcome to take their child to the appropriate school and NOT expect a school to " bend " to their will or faith . I do wonder if schools in Muslim countries allow C of E children the same freedom of religious freedom as this country does .

[@copiousfootnotes]

Yes they do

[@hyderally8045]

​@MrHatQ foreigners tend to behave well. But this isn't about foreigners. I think you're confused.

[@andyhughes8433]

Actually having researched this, Muslim countries uphold all faiths better than the rest of the world. It’s part of their faith to protect others…. Funny how it comes back to bite you on your backside….

[@itube027]

No they don’t. The two comments above mine come from liars

[@andyhughes8433]

Yes, I have researched this and Muslim countries all support other faiths. In fact it’s part of Islam to protect ppl places of worship

[@nigelmoscrop9987]

This country needs to make a stand , follow our rules or your out , end of and non of these lefty lawyers leaching the tax payer

[@documentthedrama8279]

my question is if it was a jewish kid would rachel riley call it a holocaust?

[@itube027]

What are you talking about? Your comment is idiotic.

[@555beijaflor]

Dont be ridiculous !!!

[@martinpatterson3417]

Hmm...the Evening Standard keeps deleting my comments. Why?

[@PorthLlwyd]

They aren't deleted. at the top of the comments section there is a "top" and "newest" option. You'll find your comments in the newest section.

[@itube027]

@@PorthLlwydsome people are just stupid.

[@nigelmoscrop9987]

I thoroughly respect that head teacher , well done for standing up to extreme bullying .

[@paullandman8770]

Best news of the day

[@MrMarmalizer]

Aggressive Muslim ideologues mistake a lack of preferential treatment for ‘repression’.

[@MichElle-zc9tu]

👍🏻👏🤛🙏🏻💃

[@fatoujammeh5069]

Great news for Catherine well done ❤

[@CC-hx7lj]

Do you back her up because you identify with her?

[@mkodyChallengesYOu]

So no prayers allowed during lunch One cant practice ones faith in the space designated for you to express yourself But you can change your biology and identify as anything ! Getting more 1937 ish vibes

[@itube027]

Give me a break. You want your kid to pray during school hours, put this in an Islamic brainwashing school. Comments like yours are idiotic.

[@CC-hx7lj]

Does Katherine Birbalsingh suffer from exophthalmos???

[@maryamali3347]

I'm genuinely surprised that the judge sided with the school. You don't need to be a legal expert to recognise the legal error here. In the interest of justice, I hope they appeal this decision to the Supreme Court.

[@moondust1979]

Appeal it? Why? Prayer can be done at home or quietly in your head, no need to make a show of it in a place that is for learning.

[@555beijaflor]

👏👏👏👏👏

[@moondust1979]

I am so proud of that head teacher

[@OUTL4WZ]

Keep religion out of school. Ban Christmas 🎄 holiday and celebration out of the school.

[@ktay7382]

Hell yeah 🤘 🇬🇧

[@hqs7853]

So people cannot pray to God anymore? You will regret this when you face God. Also Britian is founded on Christian traditions and values...

[@Kushdeeskates]

@@hqs7853 This is about Islam in school.... Not what Britian was founded on

[@hyderally8045]

​@@Kushdeeskateswhat was Britain founded on?

[@Kushdeeskates]

​@@hyderally8045 On the foundations of Christian beliefs... Read a book man

[@mubashirkhan6881]

​@@Kushdeeskatesis britain based on xtian values today? Evolution, same sex, lgbtq are in line with xtianity?

[@v8infinity8]

Praise Jesus!!!!!!

[@joelaw5207]

At last, we're finally showing them they're in a Christian country, stop trying to chip away at our values.

[@martinpatterson3417]

The last census showed that this is not a Christian country. More people identified as non-Christian than Christian.

[@martinpatterson3417]

It's not a Christian country. The last census showed that. More people identify as non-Christian than Christian.

[@mohammedzaman9771]

Christian country?? yeah u all remember youre christians on christmas day 😂😂😂😂 the rest of the year you're atheists.

[@UU-vl2kn]

Whats someone wanting to pray in their own lunch time got to do with christian values?! Or any other values?! If someone can dance, play, sing , run during lunch break- why not pray

[@blazebr1410]

Exactly.

[@Christine-hr8in]

This IS a, Christian Country, Other people of Different beliefs Should Respect That, Not have the Very System Banning The Faith of their Country to Accommodate other people beliefs. Other people Need to Respect Where They Are, That is what will get people to Work together.

[@user-ho3ry7rn1d]

This IS a muslim, Hindsu, budhist, etc countr, other people of...yea imagine if everyone had that attitude. It is prayer!!!!! takes 10 mins, probably do the school some good.

[@liamsmith9654]

It's a Christian country,always has been and always will be 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿​@@user-ho3ry7rn1d

[@martinpatterson3417]

It's not a Christian country. The UK is made up of all different faiths and none. At the last census more people now identify as non-Christian than Christian.

[@mubashirkhan6881]

This is a secular country n everything from the laws to what you get taught in school is secular

[@MichElle-zc9tu]

@@user-ho3ry7rn1d then go back to hajj, sudan, somalia or pakitsan.

[@josephhoward3558]

This has got to apply to football as well.

[@rizwantariq5964]

Its sad that years of negative media coverage, most often false or at best sensationalised, has led so many people to take a dim view of a child praying in a corner of a playground. I could understand if this was impacting the childs education or if this was disrupting the class in anyway, but to stop and then suspend someone for doing something during break time seems extremely heavy handed.

[@Mediumal]

Not the point is it? The school's ethos is basically secular and non-denominational. Cannot allow exceptions here. Muslims have only themselves to blame if they are now getting some negative feedback from the State legal system on this issue. They have, we are told, come to this country to integrate not to colonise. This requires a bit of give and take. Well some of them have taken the piss for far too long, with this being just one more example of it. The parents of this child knew the rules of their daughter's school and therefore deliberately chose to use the law to try to undermine it. This girl has been used to try to destroy the ethos of that school, with teachers being subject to constant harassment by agitprop Muslim groups, again trying to undermine the school's policy. This will not end here I fear, with an appeal to a higher court now almost certain.

[@PrivateWalker]

It was because zealous muslim kids were intimidating others to pray at their order.

[@itube027]

No Rizwan. No religion in schools. It’s simple. Muslims always want to colonise everywhere they go with their Islam.

[@kaystar1844]

But we can teach kids that identifying as a cat is their choice lol okay. Make it make sense

[@againstall4agsandtrans511]

🤣🤣exactly what my point is. The system is rigged. We live in a failed society. Where's gays have more rights than religion itself.

[@misterrightuk]

So Birbalsingh doesn't want to bite the hand that feeds her? Got it.

[@MichElle-zc9tu]

while that little Muslim trickster cost the nation a wasted large sum of money of taxpayers. little trickster should refund all that money.

[@Bobby-LeeChanning]

WITHOUT LIES ....ISLAM DIES

[@mubashirkhan6881]

With lies your still failing😂

[@Bobby-LeeChanning]

@@mubashirkhan6881 try English (pee..edo) mo

[@Bobby-LeeChanning]

@@mubashirkhan6881 LIKE THE IRANIAN ATTACK 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@itube027]

@@mubashirkhan6881keep your idiocy to yourself please.

[@mubashirkhan6881]

@@Bobby-LeeChanning peedo...yes your xtian establishments are full of them

[@martinpatterson3417]

My comment keeps getting deleted but if you think this is a Chri st ian country check out the results of the last census. More people identify as Non-Chr ist ian.

[@mubashirkhan6881]

I agree its secular all the way through

[@UU-vl2kn]

Islam is a religion that happens every day of Muslims life and everywhere. Not just a building for one day in a week. Teach respect in schools before anything else. Esp whilst this country has created a whole program to teach respecting rainbows.

[@itube027]

Islam is a religion that seeks to colonise every society it exists in. Keep it to yourself please.

[@jayakakshmi3029]

We need more headmistress like Katherine Birbalsingh for the better future for the British

[@jayakakshmi3029]

Please respect Britain's laws

[@LOSERSCHOSEISLAM]

I WILL LISTEN TO ANY ARGUMENTS BY AL-LAH HIMSELF

[@larrydickman5936]

All for freedom of belief, so long as you agree with the establishment

[@itube027]

No. It’s simple: no religion in school. If the kid wants to pray during school maybe go to a Muslim brainwashing establishment.

[@Lonyw]

This headteacher is pathetic. Support multiculture, but you can't practice your religion

[@itube027]

No. Your comment is pathetic.

[@moondust1979]

When did she say you can’t practice your religion?? lol. Pray at HOME. Not at a school. School is for LEARNING .

[@Lonyw]

@@moondust1979 they pray at BREAK TIME. There are specifies times for prayers and SCHOOL is during one of them. These students are not hindering anyone's progress. It is BREAK TIME that they pray. She clearly is preventing the practicing of religion by banning prayer even at break times. This is tyranny and you support it