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| Decision expected in bangle case | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A teenager is due to find out later whether she has succeeded in her fight to wear a religious bangle at school. | A teenager is due to find out later whether she has succeeded in her fight to wear a religious bangle at school. |
| Sarika Singh, 14, from Cwmbach, south Wales was excluded in November 2007 from Aberdare Girls School. | Sarika Singh, 14, from Cwmbach, south Wales was excluded in November 2007 from Aberdare Girls School. |
| The schoolgirl has claimed unlawful discrimination but the school says its no jewellery policy is fair to all. | The schoolgirl has claimed unlawful discrimination but the school says its no jewellery policy is fair to all. |
| A High Court judge in London is expected to rule on the controversial matter after reserving judgement last month. | |
| Sarika says the Kara bangle is important to her as it is a symbol of her Sikh faith. | Sarika says the Kara bangle is important to her as it is a symbol of her Sikh faith. |
| Liberty which is backing her has argued the school has breached race relations, equality and human rights laws | Liberty which is backing her has argued the school has breached race relations, equality and human rights laws |
| They say it also contravenes a 25-year-old Law Lords' decision which allows Sikh children to wear items representing their faith, including turbans, to school. | They say it also contravenes a 25-year-old Law Lords' decision which allows Sikh children to wear items representing their faith, including turbans, to school. |
| At a hearing in June barrister Helen Mountfield said the bangle means a great deal to Sarika. | At a hearing in June barrister Helen Mountfield said the bangle means a great deal to Sarika. |
| She told Mr Justice Silber it is one of the symbols of the Sikh faith and not a piece of jewellery. | She told Mr Justice Silber it is one of the symbols of the Sikh faith and not a piece of jewellery. |
| The school, where Sarika was the only Sikh pupil among 600 girls, only allows wristwatches and plain ear-studs to be worn. | The school, where Sarika was the only Sikh pupil among 600 girls, only allows wristwatches and plain ear-studs to be worn. |
| The High Court has earlier heard from Jonathan Auburn for Aberdare Girls' School, who rejected claims the school had adopted an inflexible and overly-rigid policy. | The High Court has earlier heard from Jonathan Auburn for Aberdare Girls' School, who rejected claims the school had adopted an inflexible and overly-rigid policy. |
| Since the exclusion, Sarika has enrolled at Mountain Ash Comprehensive School, which allowed her to wear the Kara, pending the outcome of her court challenge. | |
| At the time of the exclusion, Sarika's mother said: "It's not jewellery, it's part of our faith and symbol of our belief." | At the time of the exclusion, Sarika's mother said: "It's not jewellery, it's part of our faith and symbol of our belief." |
| "We feel very strongly that Sarika has a right to manifest her religion - she's not asking for anything big and flashy, she's not making a big fuss, she just wants a reminder of her religion." | "We feel very strongly that Sarika has a right to manifest her religion - she's not asking for anything big and flashy, she's not making a big fuss, she just wants a reminder of her religion." |
| The Sikh Federation UK said that the bangle was an "article of faith" and Sikhs had no choice but to wear it. | The Sikh Federation UK said that the bangle was an "article of faith" and Sikhs had no choice but to wear it. |