Teenager takes school to high court over chastity ring
Friday, 22 Jun 2007 18:47
Lydia claims her school is in violation of article nine of the Human Rights Act
A teenage girl has lodged a high court case against her school for imposing a ban on her wearing a chastity ring under its 'no jewellery' policy.
The rings were inscribed with a biblical verse and Lydia Playfoot, 16, says they symbolised "her Christian commitment to sexual abstinence until marriage".
Teachers at the Millais School, a girls school in Horsham, West Sussex, asked her to remove the ring as it was an item of jewellery and because it could cause physical injury to others.
At the high court today, judgment on Lydia's case was referred until a later date.
When Lydia refused to take off her chastity ring she was put 'in isolation' which meant that she missed classes and had to study on her own.
Speaking about the school's reaction to her wearing of the ring, Lydia said: "I was surprised because the people who get put in isolation are caught smoking and are really rude and outrageous.
"I thought, why am I here? I didn't feel as if I'd done anything wrong."
She claims her school is in violation of article nine of the Human Rights Act, which guarantees a person's right to practise their religion or beliefs.
Lydia also says that her school operates a discriminatory policy as it allows Sikh and Muslim pupils to wear bracelets and headscarves.
The school denies breaching human rights law, saying the ring is not an integral part of the Christian faith. It adds that the wearing of crucifixes is permitted under its rules.
Lydia started to wear the ring after attending an event organised by an American Christian movement, The Silver Ring Thing, in 2005. The movement promotes abstinence and encourages adolescents to maintain their chastity.