In defence of Katharine Birbalsingh’s prayer ban

We won’t know for some time what the outcome of the claim that a London school has broken the law by refusing to allow ritual prayer on its premises will be. But whatever the result, the case neatly exposes the problems of the rights culture we now live in.

The school is Katharine Birbalsingh’s Michaela School in Brent, an non-religious establishment where roughly half the intake is Muslim. Until recently Muslim pupils engaged in a daily prayer ritual. But after this created disorder, unpleasantness and some intimidation of teachers, the governors introduced a blanket ban on all ritual prayer, apparently with the result that calm and order were quickly restored. 

This did not satisfy one parent, however. Her daughter has now sought a judicial review, claiming that the ban is discriminatory and infringes her human right to practise her religion.