Madam, - With reference to Kevin Myers's Irishman's Diary of March 8th, the English Court of Appeal ruling over the wearing of the jilbab did come to my notice by way of the excellent BBC Radio 4 programme Law in Action. On this, the barrister and human rights expert David Wolfe was asked whether all Muslim girls now had a green light to wear the jilbab as has been widely reported in the media. His reply was an emphatic no.
He reported that what the appeal judges actually said was that the school had reached its decision in an unlawful manner. This leaves open the possibility that this and other schools, following proper procedures, can still decide that the jilbab is not acceptable. Shabina Begum has subsequently left the school involved in this case. - Yours, etc.,
JOHN BRICK,
Mount Merrion,
Co Dublin.