The Indian principal wins the UK challenge against the school prayer ban.

Despite facing legal challenge from a Muslim student who claimed discrimination, the principal of an Indian-origin school, dubbed as “Britain’s strictest headmistress,” declared her happiness with a recent UK High Court verdict that upheld her school’s restriction of prayer routines.

At the “secular” Michaela School in Wembley, north London, Katherine Birbalsingh, who is of Indo-Guyanese descent, vehemently opposed the prohibition. According to Birbalsingh, the school’s stance against having a dedicated prayer room is a result of its dedication to creating an inclusive atmosphere that promotes learning.

She emphasized how permitting prayer on school property could cause division and disturb the school’s culture. She also underlined the danger of compromising the rules regarding discipline at the school. In a lengthy 80-page ruling, Justice Thomas Linden supported the school’s stance and affirmed its right to preserve its secular values.

Following the judgment, Birbalsingh celebrated it as a victory for educational establishments all throughout the country, stressing the significance of giving schools the authority to make decisions that are consistent with their mission and core values. Gillian Keegan, the education secretary, reiterated this idea and emphasized the independence of head teachers in making decisions.

According to the High Court’s decision, the prayer prohibition is legitimate under the Equality Act of 2010 and the European Convention on Human Rights. The Muslim student at the center of the legal battle has stated that she is disappointed with the decision but plans to turn her attention back to her studies.