In the U.K., a Muslim Student Was Sent Home Repeatedly for Her Skirt Being ‘Too Long’

[El Generico]

A school in Middlesex, England, is threatening legal action against parents of a 12-year-old Muslim girl who was sent home from school every day in December. The reason for this uproar? Siham Hamud refused to wear a shorter skirt on religious grounds, which violated the school’s dress code.

Hamud, a student at Uxbridge High School, told The Telegraph, “It feels like bullying because of what I believe.” She had been able to wear an ankle-length skirt to school for years before it became a disciplinary issue in December. The school’s uniform code, which was enacted two years ago, requires female students to wear pleated, school-issue skirts or trousers. Siham was first approached by teachers about the issue on December 1, and was sent home each day for the rest of term. Now, she is attending school online due to COVID-19 lockdown restrictions, but her family expects the issue to continue when they are allowed to return to in-person classes.

Her father, Idris, a sports coach, told The Telegraph that the branch of Islam they follow believes women should wear long skirts. He continued, “All Siham wants to do is to wear a skirt which is a few centimetres longer than her classmates—and I don’t know why the school has such a problem with this.” He plans to fight all legal action brought by the school.

School uniforms, particularly for young women, students of color, and LGBTQ+ youths, have become a flashpoint in recent years. A similar case to Hamud’s occurred in France in 2015, when a Muslim teenager was sent home for her long skirt, which teachers felt “conspicuously” showed her religious affiliation. A 2004 law in France allows only “discreet religious signs” in schools.

The conversation routinely makes headlines in the United States as students across the country come forward with claims they’ve been discriminated against. An 11-year-old Black girl in Louisiana was sent home from elementary school for wearing braided hair extensions which broke the school’s policy banning “extensions, clip-ins, or weaves.” When a Kentucky female student was sent home for exposing her collarbone in 2015, the story went viral. More recently, Trevor Wilkinson, a senior at a high school in Texas received an in-school suspension for painting his nails.

While the particulars of each case are unique—whether the issue is a skirt that’s too short or too long—these dress codes can leave students vulnerable to discrimination or humiliation. Critics will surely say dress codes should apply equally to all students, but this sentiment brushes over the fact that they do not affect all students equally. Conceivably, the goal of a dress code is to place students on equal footing with their clothing so they can focus on studies. Who benefits when a 12-year-old young woman is sent home every day for weeks?

https://www.vogue.com/article/muslim-student-uk-sent-home-for-skirt-being-too-long

I thought this sort of stuff only happened in France but I guess UK isn’t too different.

 

[Giannis]

Why is the UK still stuck with school uniforms? In North America, you don't wear uniforms in public schools and can wear pretty much whatever you want.

 

[ManFan]

Why is the UK still stuck with school uniforms? In North America, you don't wear uniforms in public schools and can wear pretty much whatever you want.

One argument is so kids do not feel inferior to those who can purchase better clothes.

 

[saeedhk]

This is an exception rather than the norm. Muslim women are happier and safer in the West than in Islamic countries like Pakistan.

Many Muslim women in Pakistan and elsewhere want to move abroad so that they can do what normal girls do such go for a walk, have a cup of coffee, use the public transport and wear whatever they want.

 

[DeadlyVenom]

This is an exception rather than the norm. Muslim women are happier and safer in the West than in Islamic countries like Pakistan.

Many Muslim women in Pakistan and elsewhere want to move abroad so that they can do what normal girls do such go for a walk, have a cup of coffee, use the public transport and wear whatever they want.

This is sadly true.

 

[chacha kashmiri]

One argument is so kids do not feel inferior to those who can purchase better clothes.

Pretty much why everyone wears the same bit of cloth while in Makka

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

This is an exception rather than the norm. Muslim women are happier and safer in the West than in Islamic countries like Pakistan.

Many Muslim women in Pakistan and elsewhere want to move abroad so that they can do what normal girls do such go for a walk, have a cup of coffee, use the public transport and wear whatever they want.

This is also true for hindu and sikh women. They are undoubtedly happier and safer in the west than in India. I feel it is a subcontinental and third world issue primarily rather than one restricted to Pakistan.

 

[Technics 1210]

This is not an exception and the only reason it's news is because it involves a Muslim girl.

You have to live in the UK to realise this.

 

[Technics 1210]

This is an exception rather than the norm. Muslim women are happier and safer in the West than in Islamic countries like Pakistan.

Many Muslim women in Pakistan and elsewhere want to move abroad so that they can do what normal girls do such go for a walk, have a cup of coffee, use the public transport and wear whatever they want.

You blagger. Women in Pakistan can go for walks, and have cups of coffee, and can use public transport.

As for - wear what ever they want - Please enlighten us? Do you mean short skirts and tank tops? Speak up.

 

[Tubs]

I don't think the school should die on the hill of a longer skirt being unacceptable, especially if it was only a few centimetres longer. But I get it is school policy. If skirts are an issue, and they want to adhere to Islamic tradition, wouldn't trousers be an obvious choice? Not blaming the student here, a genuine question.

Regardless, I don't think exceptions should be made on religious grounds, but it's just a slightly longer skirt. If it makes the student more comfortable, I don't have a moral obligation to it at all. However, I guess you could quite easily say 'just wear trousers'. Though I do think this is probably blown out of proportion.

 

[DeadlyVenom]

I don't think the school should die on the hill of a longer skirt being unacceptable, especially if it was only a few centimetres longer. But I get it is school policy. If skirts are an issue, and they want to adhere to Islamic tradition, wouldn't trousers be an obvious choice? Not blaming the student here, a genuine question.

Regardless, I don't think exceptions should be made on religious grounds, but it's just a slightly longer skirt. If it makes the student more comfortable, I don't have a moral obligation to it at all. However, I guess you could quite easily say 'just wear trousers'. Though I do think this is probably blown out of proportion.

You didn't seem to 'get' the decision by Bacha Khan Uni but seem more understanding of this. Whats the difference in your eyes?

 

[saeedhk]

You blagger. Women in Pakistan can go for walks, and have cups of coffee, and can use public transport.

As for - wear what ever they want - Please enlighten us? Do you mean short skirts and tank tops? Speak up.

No, they cannot. They face harassment, ugly stares and catcalls everywhere. Be it universities, cafes, bazaars or workplaces. Try living in Pakistan and see what the average woman has to go through every day.

Just a month back, women of Islamia College Peshawar took to street to demand an end to harassment. This is a university where all women are clad in black burkas.

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

No, they cannot. They face harassment, ugly stares and catcalls everywhere. Be it universities, cafes, bazaars or workplaces. Try living in Pakistan and see what the average woman has to go through every day.

Just a month back, women of Islamia College Peshawar took to street to demand an end to harassment. This is a university where all women are clad in black burkas.

When are you going to stand up for harassed and cat-called women in India? You must have read the story about women in Dehli having to carry guns into bars so they won't be molested? The last thing we want here is to indulge in whataboutism, but in my view this is a subcontinental/3rd world issue as I mentioned before, so we really need to dig into the roots of the issue if we are going to address it properly. Surface level name calling just won't do.

 

[Tubs]

You didn't seem to 'get' the decision by Bacha Khan Uni but seem more understanding of this. Whats the difference in your eyes?

I knew there'd be an ignorant, unnuanced person who would say this. First of all, there is an alternative available at this school, which coincides with Islamic guidelines, which is trousers. Secondly, this is a school, not a university, with a uniform (by law). There's a world of difference in making women wear an abaya, and saying that a certain skirt out of the school's guidelines can't be worn, but you can wear trousers if you don't want to wear a skirt.

Classic false equivalency.

I also did say that I'm not entirely sure how I feel about this, and questioned whether a few centimes more of skirt was that much of an issue. Though reading it back, I'm not sure if a skirt going down to the ankles is 'a few centimetres'. Regardless, the school does have a dress code (and unis don't) and she can wear trousers, so there is a viable alternative there.

 

[DeadlyVenom]

I knew there'd be an ignorant, unnuanced person who would say this. First of all, there is an alternative available at this school, which coincides with Islamic guidelines, which is trousers. Secondly, this is a school, not a university, with a uniform (by law). There's a world of difference in making women wear an abaya, and saying that a certain skirt out of the school's guidelines can't be worn, but you can wear trousers if you don't want to wear a skirt.

Classic false equivalency.

I also did say that I'm not entirely sure how I feel about this, and questioned whether a few centimes more of skirt was that much of an issue. Though reading it back, I'm not sure if a skirt going down to the ankles is 'a few centimetres'. Regardless, the school does have a dress code (and unis don't) and she can wear trousers, so there is a viable alternative there.

No need for the name calling.

Generally Islamic people who take this level of care over appearance don't wear trousers and prefer long modest options. Its easy for you to say what this young child should wear but clearly she feels differently.

Secondly why is it different rules for schools and unis in this case? If a uni wants to enforce a dress code why are they unable to but a school can? Is it the age of the students that makes one ok and the other not?

 

[Technics 1210]

No, they cannot. They face harassment, ugly stares and catcalls everywhere. Be it universities, cafes, bazaars or workplaces. Try living in Pakistan and see what the average woman has to go through every day.

Just a month back, women of Islamia College Peshawar took to street to demand an end to harassment. This is a university where all women are clad in black burkas.

Not what I asked you.

One more time : As for - wear what ever they want - Please enlighten us? Do you mean short skirts and tank tops?

I have lived in Pakistan and in the UK. Enlighten us on my question above.

For the rest of you, this poster views women as top shelf material - paraded assets - for those who have lived in the UK know what I mean.

Lets see see what he means.

 

[saeedhk]

Not what I asked you.

One more time : As for - wear what ever they want - Please enlighten us? Do you mean short skirts and tank tops?

I have lived in Pakistan and in the UK. Enlighten us on my question above.

For the rest of you, this poster views women as top shelf material - paraded assets - for those who have lived in the UK know what I mean.

Lets see see what he means.

I mean whatever they wish. It is their choice. I do not personally think anybody would wear skirts or tank tops in Pakistan.

 

[Tubs]

No need for the name calling.

Generally Islamic people who take this level of care over appearance don't wear trousers and prefer long modest options. Its easy for you to say what this young child should wear but clearly she feels differently.

Secondly why is it different rules for schools and unis in this case? If a uni wants to enforce a dress code why are they unable to but a school can? Is it the age of the students that makes one ok and the other not?

Fair enough, I apologise for the name calling, you're right about that.

There are non-form fitting trousers. Many practicing Muslim girls opt for that. While I am torn on the issue, when there is a viable alternative then there shouldn't really be this uproar.

Schools have uniform requirements. Unis don't. When you have such a forced dress code (abaya), then it is taking freedom away. If they had a 'modesty' dress code, then I'd relent and say it's Pakistan so it is to be accepted, but not like the ridiculous one which was posted here a few weeks back (I think it was a uni in Peshawar) which had things like no makeup, no jewellery, no jeans, t-shirts (for women) and no long-hair, unkept beard, etc (for men). That is far too restrictive. When you force adults to comply to such a strict dress code in a university setting, it is not a good thing. You shouldn't conflate uniform in pre-16 schools to a strict university dress code (where there is no uniform requirement).

 

[DeadlyVenom]

Fair enough, I apologise for the name calling, you're right about that.

There are non-form fitting trousers. Many practicing Muslim girls opt for that. While I am torn on the issue, when there is a viable alternative then there shouldn't really be this uproar.

Schools have uniform requirements. Unis don't. When you have such a forced dress code (abaya), then it is taking freedom away. If they had a 'modesty' dress code, then I'd relent and say it's Pakistan so it is to be accepted, but not like the ridiculous one which was posted here a few weeks back (I think it was a uni in Peshawar) which had things like no makeup, no jewellery, no jeans, t-shirts (for women) and no long-hair, unkept beard, etc (for men). That is far too restrictive. When you force adults to comply to such a strict dress code in a university setting, it is not a good thing. You shouldn't conflate uniform in pre-16 schools to a strict university dress code (where there is no uniform requirement).

Critically, it's only you who feels there are viable alternatives. Not the girl or her family. My stand on this is reasonably consistent. Educational authorities shouldn't be telling girls how to dress (within reason of course).

You, however, seem ok with school kids being told how to dress but not ok with uni students because universities don't have uniform requirements. This is quite arbitrary. There is no law in nature saying its ok to tell a 16 year old in school to dress with a long skirt but not ok to tell a 17 year old in university. We should apply the same standards to both.

 

[PetroDollars]

Where were these people when bank alfalah made it a policy that every women working in there bank will have to wear burkas,

 

[Bewal Express]

I am surprised by this. I have been involved in uniform issues but not anything like this. Its mostly trainers or girls PE attire, which the schools adapted for desi girls and it worked really well.

 

[Gilly]

Do muslim schools in England allow students to wear what they want?.

 

[Giannis]

Do muslim schools in England allow students to wear what they want?.

Muslims schools would be privately owned, this is a public school.

 

[observer1]

Which people? The 12 year old and her father?

 

[Bewal Express]

Do muslim schools in England allow students to wear what they want?.

No. They have adapted the uniforms to fulfil the school criteria and cultural sensitivity