GB News presenter Bev Turner has praised the efforts of school headteacher Katharine Birbalsingh, after the High Court ruled her 'prayer ban' as "lawful".
This comes as a Muslim student took legal action against the Michaela Community School in London, which Birbalsingh leads, against her ban on "prayer rituals".
In the ruling today, Mr Justice Linden said that the pupil had already "accepted when she enrolled at the school that she would be subject to restrictions" on her ability to manifest her religion.
Speaking to GB News in January, Birbalsingh said that if a "school's ethos is such that they cannot have a prayer room, then they should be allowed to not have a prayer room".
Bev Turner has hailed Birbalsingh as a 'hero' after winning her court case
GB News
Birbalsingh spoke of the fears that teachers across the country are facing due to this issue, claiming: "I'm having to support staff right now. They come and see me very frightened, they're really scared.
"It's not right that a headteacher or teachers should be put under that kind of stress, because they're just trying to do their jobs."
Reacting to the ruling, host Bev Turner said the decision was "great news" and that Birbalsingh is her "hero", following the victory.
Bev told GB News: "She's amazing. I love the way that she teaches those students. That school is the most successful across the country in terms of the improvement when they arrive in year seven, compared to the results they get when they leave after doing A-levels."
Michaela Community School in Wembley was taken to court by a Muslim student in a row over banning prayer
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In discussion about the ruling, co-host Andrew Pierce said Birbalsingh is "one of the most significant headteachers in Britain".
Andrew explained: "And this is very hugely significant of the court, saying the headteacher can run the school the way she wants to, it's really important.
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"Because if she'd lost this case, there must be every chance she might have gone."
Bev agreed, noting: "Katharine Birbalsingh's argument has always been that every child in my school must compromise based on their faith. She said everyone compromises, and I don't divide by faith.
"And if I have to give a Muslim prayer room at lunchtime for 300 children, it undermines the ethos of my school. It will cause chaos, and it would take away the need to do these lovely lunches that they do, where they bring everyone together."
Bev Turner furiously defended Birbalsingh and praised the court victory
GB News
Discussing the outcome of the ruling, Andrew claimed that Birbalsingh will most likely be "hard at work in her school, doing what she does best, doing great and teaching kids."
Lawyers for the pupil argued that she was making a "modest" request to be allowed to pray for around five minutes at lunch time, on dates when faith rules required it, but not during lessons.
Justice Linden continued in his ruling: "The essential nature of the school regime is one which the claimant and her fellow pupils, or at least their parents, have chosen and, indeed, that they have chosen to remain at the school notwithstanding the prayer ritual policy (PRP).
"Although the claimant says that she is aware of resentment of the PRP amongst some Muslim pupils, there is no evidence that this has affected enrolment or led any of them to choose to leave. Nor, indeed, is there evidence of the issue being raised with the school since the PRP was introduced, other than in the context of this claim.
"On the contrary, the evidence is that since the PRP was introduced good relations within the school community have been restored."
