Muslim dress ban - what do you think?

A school was right to ban a teenager from wearing her traditional Muslim dress, Law Lords have decided.

Shabina Begum took her school to court in 2004 after they said she wasn't allowed to wear her jilbab because it was a safety risk.

Whilst some forms of Muslim dress were allowed, a jilbab was not.

Click here to read the full story

But what do you think?

Should everyone have the right to wear what they want in school?

Or do you think everyone should be dressed the same, no matter what their religion?

E-mail and let us know your thoughts.

Unfortunately this topic is now closed but there are Comments pages on other subjects on the main Chat index.

Your comments

I agree that people from different cultures should be able to dress how they want but I also agree about the school's uniform policy, so I think that they should be allowed to wear them but just wear them in the school's colours.

Robyn, 14, Bolton

I don't think it is fair for Muslim pupils to have wearing uniform. I don't agree with the ban. I think everyone should wear what they choose. RESPECT THEIR WISHES TO WEAR THEIR OWN CLOTHES TO SCHOOL INSTEAD OF UNIFORM!

Sonali, 15, New Zealand

I think that Shabina should be allowed to wear her jilbab because it's in her faith to wear it, so why should that be in question?

Sammy, 15, Manchester

I think that it should be banned because everyone should wear all the same school uniform.

Jade, 12, Surrey

I think it was right to ban it because schools do have policies about school uniforms.

Matthew, 12, Birmingham

If you can have freedom of speech, why can't you have freedom of dress?

Aliyah, 12, Sheffield

I think this is wrong because everyone should be treated the same.

Zarina , 14, Bolton

I think different religions should be able to wear their own clothes. It's not right to ban them!

Rachel, 12, Hull

They should keep to the school dress code so that everyone is equal.

Jake , 12, Winterton

I don't think she should be allowed to wear her jilbab to school because her school rules imply that no other items are to be worn to school as they are not part of the uniform. Why should she be different and the school make allowances for her?

Lucy, 14, Cardiff

If you think about it, she's not doing any harm to others by wearing her own religions dress code.

Sammi-Jay, 15, Tregele

I think that she should not be allowed to wear the jilbab. If she is allowed to be an exception from school uniform then we all should be allowed to wear what we like, but that would lead to discrimination. When we are dressed the same we can be treated more fairly.

Amanda , 15, London

I don't think a jilbab is strictly Islamic, it is more a cultural tradition and so should be set aside at school.

Vad, 15, London

I think that not allowing people to wear religious clothing in school is a form of segregation. Everybody is entitled to believe in a religion but banning people from wearing certain clothes in school is discouraging people to stand up for what they believe in.

Becky, 15, Plymouth

Of course she should wear school uniform. If she did not then she would single herself out in the school as being different and may face bullying as a result of her religion.

David, 12, Sudbury

I believe the school was right - why should this girl be an exception when everyone else must wear full uniform?

Sophy, 14, Leeds

I think Shabina should be allowed to wear the Jilbab. Girls in my school are allowed to wear jilbabs even though it is not part of our school uniform and I don't see our headteacher doing anything! It's just completely wrong to ban the jilbab in a school!

Shahina, 14, Oldham

Shabina should be allowed to wear it.

Presea, 12, Leicester

The school I go to allows us to wear a jilbab as it is a traditional for Muslim girls over age of 12 to wear one.

Raisa, 12, Nottingham

Why should someone else be allowed to tell you what you should wear? It is your religion and you should be allowed to practice it any way that you want.

Emillie, 15, London

Schools shouldn't make these rules, they wear them because it's their beliefs!

Steph, 12, Gloucester

I think that it was a bad decision. I mean I can see where the school is coming from but they had no right to ban the jilbab. Why is it that you're allowed to express your right to freedom of speech, whereas you're not allowed to wear a religious dress, even in the school colours? I hope she keeps fighting because in my school Muslim girls are allowed to wear the jilbab and nothing has happened. They're all perfectly healthy and safe.

Sami, 15, London

I'm a Muslim and I think it's so unfair they should be allowed.

Salman, 10, Hull

I think people should be allowed to express their religion and the jilbabs are very pretty!

Laura, 14, Cheshire

I think that it is totally unfair to stop her wearing the jilbab, it is her religion and we wouldn't like it if it happened to us.

Sophie, 11, Lyhtam

I don't think Shabina should be allowed to wear her jilbab, not only because it's not fair on anybody else but also because it is a state school which we should feel grateful for having. You must obey the rules as a way of being thankful for what we have.

Louisa, 15, Edinburgh

I admire Shabina for her determination, as she should be an example to others to stand up for one's beliefs. However, I feel that school uniform and school rules should apply to all with no exceptions made for religion. This way, all pupils are equal.

Nisha, 12, London

I think that Shabina should be able to wear her jilbab because she has the rights to wear it and nothing can stop her.

Chloe, 9, Stockport

She should be allowed to wear jilbab because it's a tradition and this is unfair.

Junaid, 11, Manchester

I know that many Muslims believe that Islamic Dress must be worn out of school - it is compulsory for a girl or woman to cover her head. I think she should wear headscarves in the colours of the school uniform, but I don't believe a jilbab is necessary.

Midhat, 12, Darlington

I know two people at my school who wear jilbabs and nothing has been said about a safety risk. She should be able to wear it. It is her religion.

Viki, 12, North Weald

I think Shabina should be allowed to wear her jilbab to school because she's just following her religion and it would never do anyone any harm. If the government are trying so hard to make sure we don't exclude people because of their religion then why should they do it?

Joanna, 13, Glasgow

We're not allowed jewellery at school so I can't wear a cross for my religion so why should they be allowed to wear their outfits?

Sophie, 14, Newbury

I think that she should have been allowed to wear her jilbab because it's part of her religion. School's are just for learning, not teaching other people what they can and can't wear!!

Sadia, 11, Watford

Why should Muslims be allowed to wear what they want when other people can't?

David, 14, Cardiff

I don't think anybody should wear anything apart from school uniform because if you let people wear what they want it will start rows.

Gemma, 13, Rochdale

I think the rules apply to all the children and there should be no exceptions.

Emma, 13, Leicestershire

I think they were right to ban it if they said it was safety risk then it was a safety risk. They wouldn't just make up the rule for no reason.

Amy, 13, Manchester

It's part of the Muslim religion to wear the Jilbab, I think. By wearing it in school, the Muslims are proudly displaying their religion and teaching others. It's almost like telling a Christian student they can't wear a crucifix. It's just wrong!

Sarah 15, Stourbridge

You can't make one rule for one and a different rule for another. School rules should be made to apply to all.

Kristian, 13, Pontypridd

I think that if it is their own religion then they should be able to wear it otherwise that is another way of disrespecting their religion.

Ely, 13, Salisbury

I think it is appalling that she is not aloud to wear her head dress in class!!! I think she should really fight to be allowed to wear it!

Rhian, 12, Margate

I have mixed feelings on this subject. EVERYONE, no matter what their religion is, should stick to school uniform. I don't see why just because you believe in a certain religion, you should be able to wear your own clothes when everyone else can't. BUT if it was a mufti day or a school with no uniform, the school shouldn't be able to stop people from wearing it.

Heather, 14, Hoghton

I think that she should wear the same as everyone else because in my school I am not allowed to wear my cross so why should she be different and have different rules just because she has a different religion?

Lauren, 14, Gloucester

I don't think you should be allowed to wear religious dress to school, because everyone has to wear the same, the rules shouldn't be different for other religions.

Katy, 13, Newcastle Upon Tyne

I think it should not be allowed to be worn at school because it's not part of school, the court made the right decision.

James, 13, Wembley

I am all for that! I am not a racist but I have to wear school uniform and therefore I think it's unfair that Muslims should have special privileges in school dress code.

Louise, 15, Bolton

I think that this ban of Muslim dress is really bad! People in the UK are allowed to wear what they want! I'm sure if it was any other religion there would be no problem with wearing their religious clothing.

Jobhan, 13, Birmingham

I think people should be able to wear what they like especially if it's part of their religion.

Lucy, 10, Wales

That is not fair at all. It's for religion and some people feel really strongly about it. If it's for your religion you should be able to decide what you wear.

Nosheen, 12, Accrington

I think you should be able to wear something that is part of your religion. People at my school do and I think that they should be allowed if it is important for them to wear it in order to not be respect their religion.

Ellie, 12, Leeds

Muslim girls should be allowed to wear their Islamic dress. Alternatively, they may wear a jilbab over the school uniform. If they think their modesty is prevented in that way, it should be respected.

Jenny, 14, Middlesex

I think if you wear one to school you should be allowed to wear it if you go to a Muslim School. If not you should not be allowed to wear one even though it is your religion to wear one.

Joe, 15, Margate

I don't think you should be allowed to wear any different clothes from the uniform because you should save your religion for home rather being different from everyone else. Just because you have a different religion it doesn't mean you're different from everyone else!

Emma, 12, West Sussex

I think she should just respect the rules of the school and wear uniform like everyone else.

Ben, 8, Unknown

I don't think you should be allowed to wear a jilbab to school because when people go to Muslim countries they have to obey their rules so why can't they obey ours?

Elli, 12, Chester

I think we should be allowed to wear what we want. Muslim people should have rights to wear what we want.

Atika, 10, London

Someone at my school wears a jilbab and she's still allowed in classes. Schools shouldn't be allowed to make up the rules.

Jade, 13, Oxford