The dad and mom of a Muslim lady who was despatched house from faculty for sporting a skirt that was deemed “too lengthy” are being threatened with authorized motion.
Siham Hamud, 12, described being bullied for her spiritual beliefs after being despatched house daily in December from Uxbridge highschool in Hillingdon, Middlesex, and advised to solely come again when she wore a shorter skirt.
She had been sporting an ankle-length skirt to high school for years, however mentioned she was shocked when academics final month advised her the apparel was incorrect uniform.
The college says ladies ought to put on black trousers or a black pleated skirt from official uniform suppliers.
Nonetheless, the Siham’s father, Idris Hamud, 55, mentioned brief skirts contravene the household’s spiritual beliefs and his daughter had refused to attend faculty. The college has now threatened him and his spouse, Salma Yusuf, 44, with authorized motion over their daughter’s alleged unauthorised absences.
Siham, who’s now finding out from house as a result of Covid lockdown restrictions, described feeling bullied for her beliefs.
“It makes me really feel omitted, as a result of I can’t see my associates. They aren’t accepting me for my faith and that’s fallacious,” she mentioned. “I really feel confused and aggravated that I can’t put on what I need for my faith. I hope they’ll change their guidelines in order that ladies like me put on skirts to high school.”
A brand new faculty rule in regards to the size of skirts was launched two years in the past, stating shorter branded skirts needed to be worn.
However the household declare they solely not too long ago grew to become conscious of this variation, and Siham continued sporting her longer skirt, unaware she was breaking any guidelines, till she was spoken to by academics on 1 December.
On that day she was despatched house to alter, however didn’t return to high school. The identical factor occurred every day for the three weeks of time period in December, her household mentioned.
Siham’s older sisters, Sumayyah, 19, and Ilham, 17, each wore longer skirts to high school with out subject.
Hamud, an athletics coach, mentioned his daughter was being denied an schooling due to her spiritual beliefs.
“All Siham desires to do is to put on a skirt which is just a few centimetres longer than her classmates, and I don’t know why the varsity has such an issue with this. She is shipped house to alter right into a shorter skirt then return to high school later that day – however she isn’t going to alter her beliefs in an hour.
“The college is threatening to take authorized motion in opposition to me, however I’m not forcing her to put on an extended skirt – it’s her religion and her choice to make. She used to like faculty, however now she goes to high school crying due to this – it’s heartbreaking.”
The college despatched the dad and mom a letter on 9 December threatening motion.
It mentioned: “Siham’s absence is being recorded as unauthorised. Unauthorised absence might end in a tremendous being issued, or authorized motion being taken in opposition to the adults who’ve parental duty or day-to-day care of your little one.
“Authorized motion may be within the type of a penalty discover or a summons to the magistrates court docket.
“I need to ask that you just help the varsity and your daughter by guaranteeing that she attends faculty in full faculty uniform with fast impact.”
The college’s principal, Nigel Clemens, mentioned: “This matter is at present topic to examination by means of the formal faculty complaints coverage. It will due to this fact not be applicable to remark additional presently.”