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| Sikh girl wins bangle law battle | |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| A Sikh teenager has won her High Court discrimination claim against her school which excluded her for breaking its "no jewellery" rule. | |
| Sarika Singh, 14, from Cwmbach, south Wales was excluded in November 2007 from Aberdare Girls School for refusing to take off a religious bangle. | Sarika Singh, 14, from Cwmbach, south Wales was excluded in November 2007 from Aberdare Girls School for refusing to take off a religious bangle. |
| The school claimed its no jewellery policy was fair to all. | The school claimed its no jewellery policy was fair to all. |
| A High Court judge in London ruled on the controversial matter after reserving judgement last month. | A High Court judge in London ruled on the controversial matter after reserving judgement last month. |
| Sarika says the Kara bangle - a slim steel bracelet - is important to her as it is a symbol of her Sikh faith. | |
| As a result of the judgment, Sarika is allowed to return to Aberdare Girls School in September, wearing the Kara. | |
| Her lawyers had told Mr Justice Silber that the Kara was as important to her as it was to England spin bowler Monty Panesar, who has been pictured wearing the bangle. | |
| I'm so happy to know that no-one else will go through what me and my family have gone through. Sarika Singh | |
| The judge declared the school was guilty of indirect discrimination under race relations and equality laws. | |
| After the judgement, Sarika said: "I am overwhelmed by the outcome and it's marvellous to know that the long journey I've been on has finally come to an end. | |
| "I'm so happy to know that no-one else will go through what me and my family have gone through and no other pupil will ever get banned from wearing their Kara again. | |
| "I just want to say that I am a proud Welsh and Punjabi Sikh girl." | |
| Sarika's mother, Sinita, 38, added: "We are over the moon. It is just such a relief." | |
| The school banned Sarika Singh from wearing the Kara | |
| Liberty which backed her, has argued the school has breached race relations, equality and human rights laws | Liberty which backed her, has argued the school has breached race relations, equality and human rights laws |
| They said it also contravened a 25-year-old Law Lords' decision which allows Sikh children to wear items representing their faith, including turbans, to school. | They said it also contravened a 25-year-old Law Lords' decision which allows Sikh children to wear items representing their faith, including turbans, to school. |
| Anna Fairclough, the Singh family's solicitor said: "I'm very pleased to say that Sarika's won her case. | Anna Fairclough, the Singh family's solicitor said: "I'm very pleased to say that Sarika's won her case. |
| "It's a very common sense judgement that makes clear that you must have a very good reason before you interfere with someone's religious freedom and ethnic identity. | "It's a very common sense judgement that makes clear that you must have a very good reason before you interfere with someone's religious freedom and ethnic identity. |
| "No such reason was forthcoming in this case. | "No such reason was forthcoming in this case. |
| "It's a shame that each generation has to fight the same battles. This battle was already fought 25 years ago and Sarika shouldn't have had to go through that again. | "It's a shame that each generation has to fight the same battles. This battle was already fought 25 years ago and Sarika shouldn't have had to go through that again. |
| "Our great British traditions of religious tolerance and race equality have been rightly upheld today. | "Our great British traditions of religious tolerance and race equality have been rightly upheld today. |
| "The courts made clear that schools schools should protect pupils from being bullied and not ostracise them for expressing their beliefs." | "The courts made clear that schools schools should protect pupils from being bullied and not ostracise them for expressing their beliefs." |
| A spokesperson from Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council said it had been informed of the High Court's judgement in the case and it would "be working with the school's governing body to ensure Sarika Singh's continued education." | A spokesperson from Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council said it had been informed of the High Court's judgement in the case and it would "be working with the school's governing body to ensure Sarika Singh's continued education." |