Supreme Court allows Democracy Hub join Wesley Girls religious rights case
The Supreme Court has granted Democracy Hub permission to submit a written brief as a friend of the court (amicus curiae) in the ongoing case challenging alleged religious discrimination at Wesley Girls’ Senior High School.
The case was filed in December 2024 by lawyer Shafic Osman, who is challenging school policies that he says prevent Muslim students from practising their faith.
These alleged restrictions include wearing the hijab, fasting during Ramadan, and performing other Islamic rites.
Osman argues that these policies violate constitutional rights under the 1992 Constitution, including freedom of religion, equality before the law, and protection from discrimination.
The Attorney-General, representing Wesley Girls’ SHS and GES, maintains that the school founded and operated by the Methodist Church has the right to uphold its denominational identity.
The AG is also seeking the Court’s approval to amend its original statement of case to better counter Osman’s constitutional arguments.
Legal experts are divided.
Some argue that because Wesley Girls is publicly funded, it must comply fully with the Constitution rather than rely on denominational traditions.
Others describe the lawsuit as a landmark test of religious accommodation in mission schools, with the potential to shape how public institutions manage religious diversity.