Muslim student takes London school to High Court over ‘prayer ban’

A high-achieving north London school, previously dubbed Britain’s strictest, is facing a High Court challenge from a Muslim student over a decision to impose a “prayer ban”.

The student, who cannot be named, alleges that the policy introduced by the Michaela Community School in Brent is discriminatory and had “fundamentally changed” how she feels “about being a Muslim in this country”, a judge heard.

Sarah Hannett KC, representing the student only to be referred to as TTT, told the court that the policy had the “practical effect of only preventing Muslims from praying because their prayer by nature has a ritualised nature rather than being internal”.

The barrister said it was “a ban uniquely on Muslim prayer”, stopping pupils praying “at a time as required by Islam”, under which it is part of the “five pillars” of the faith.