http://www.smh.com.au/news/National/School-backs-down-over-students-dress/2005/05/15/1116095857407.html “This isn’t really a victory for me. All I want is for them to say sorry and admit they made a mistake” … Yasamin Alttahir displays her detention note.Photo: Nick Moir
A principal who disciplined a Muslim teenager for wearing a religious garment in class has backed down following the student’s allegation, reported in the Herald, that she was a target of discrimination.
The turnaround came as the parents of Yasamin Alttahir, 17, a student of Auburn Girls’ High School, were preparing to take legal action to protect her right to wear a mantoo, a loose-fitting, ankle-length coat, in accordance with her Shiite Muslim faith.
The principal, Sharon Ford, said she acknowledged their support for Yasamin’s dress, and would grant her an exemption from the school’s uniform code.
Yasamin’s parents, Mohammad Alttahir and Eiman Moosawy, had not been informed of the change of heart last night, and were still angry. They said they would wait to see the decision in writing before abandoning their legal challenge.
“It’s shocking that this should happen to my daughter, who is simply practising her faith,” Ms Moosawy said.
“I can’t believe it, honestly.”
Last week an Education Department spokesman said Ms Ford had ordered Yasamin to attend detention after school on Thursday, but that she had not shown up. Yesterday a spokeswoman for the Education Minister, Carmel Tebbutt, was reported as saying the school had not disciplined Yasamin at all.
However, a detention slip seen by the Herald says: “Dear Parents, Your daughter, Yasamin Alttahir, must attend an after school detention