The parents of a Muslim girl who was sent home from school for wearing a skirt that was deemed "too long" are being threatened with legal action.
Siham Hamud, 12, described being bullied for her religious beliefs after being sent home every day in December from Uxbridge high school in Hillingdon, Middlesex, and told to only come back when she wore a shorter skirt.
She had been wearing an ankle-length skirt to school for years, but said she was shocked when teachers last month told her the attire was incorrect uniform.
The school says girls should wear black trousers or a black pleated skirt from official uniform suppliers.
However, the Siham's father, Idris Hamud, 55, said short skirts contravene the family's religious beliefs and his daughter had refused to attend school. The school has now threatened him and his wife, Salma Yusuf, 44, with legal action over their daughter's alleged unauthorised absences.
Siham, who is now studying from home due to Covid lockdown restrictions, described feeling bullied for her beliefs.
"It makes me feel left out, because I can't see my friends. They aren't accepting me for my religion and that's wrong," she said. "I feel confused and annoyed that I can't wear what I want for my religion. I hope they'll change their rules so that girls like me wear skirts to school."
A new school rule about the length of skirts was introduced two years ago, stating shorter branded skirts had to be worn.
But the family claim they only recently became aware of this change, and Siham continued wearing her longer skirt, unaware she was breaking any rules, until she was spoken to by teachers on 1 December.
www.theguardian.com
