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| 'Purity' ring case in High Court | 'Purity' ring case in High Court |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| A 16-year-old girl is in the High Court to accuse her school of discriminating against Christians by banning the wearing of "purity rings". | |
| Lydia Playfoot was told by Millais School in Horsham, West Sussex, to remove her ring, which symbolises chastity, or face expulsion. | Lydia Playfoot was told by Millais School in Horsham, West Sussex, to remove her ring, which symbolises chastity, or face expulsion. |
| She says Sikh and Muslim pupils can wear bangles and headscarves in class. | She says Sikh and Muslim pupils can wear bangles and headscarves in class. |
| The school denies breaching her human rights, insisting the ring is not an essential part of the Christian faith. | The school denies breaching her human rights, insisting the ring is not an essential part of the Christian faith. |
| BBC News religious affairs correspondent Robert Piggott said a group of girls at the school were wearing the rings as part of a movement called the "Silver Ring Thing". | BBC News religious affairs correspondent Robert Piggott said a group of girls at the school were wearing the rings as part of a movement called the "Silver Ring Thing". |
| Originating in America, it promotes abstinence among young people. | Originating in America, it promotes abstinence among young people. |
| Mr Piggott said it was now spreading to the UK as part of a wider protest by traditionalist Christians against what they see as the secularisation of society. | Mr Piggott said it was now spreading to the UK as part of a wider protest by traditionalist Christians against what they see as the secularisation of society. |
| 'Sexually pure' | 'Sexually pure' |
| The rings are inscribed with a reference to the biblical verse I Thess 4:3-4, which translates as: "God wants you to be holy, so you should keep clear of all sexual sin. Then each of you will control your body and live in holiness and honour." | The rings are inscribed with a reference to the biblical verse I Thess 4:3-4, which translates as: "God wants you to be holy, so you should keep clear of all sexual sin. Then each of you will control your body and live in holiness and honour." |
| In the Bible it says you should remain sexually pure and I think this is a way I want to express my faith Lydia Playfoot | In the Bible it says you should remain sexually pure and I think this is a way I want to express my faith Lydia Playfoot |
| Miss Playfoot's school said her ring broke uniform rules and ordered her to remove it. | Miss Playfoot's school said her ring broke uniform rules and ordered her to remove it. |
| When she refused, she was taken out of lessons and made to study on her own. | When she refused, she was taken out of lessons and made to study on her own. |
| She told BBC Breakfast: "In the Bible it says you should remain sexually pure and I think this is a way I want to express my faith. | She told BBC Breakfast: "In the Bible it says you should remain sexually pure and I think this is a way I want to express my faith. |
| "I think in the society we live in today with lots of pregnancies and STDs, something like this is quite important and should be taken hold of." | "I think in the society we live in today with lots of pregnancies and STDs, something like this is quite important and should be taken hold of." |
| Miss Playfoot is seeking a judicial review under Article Nine of the Human Rights Act which guarantees freedom of religious expression. | Miss Playfoot is seeking a judicial review under Article Nine of the Human Rights Act which guarantees freedom of religious expression. |
| She says that should protect her right to wear the ring. | She says that should protect her right to wear the ring. |
| The school will insist that it is not operating a discriminatory policy because allowances made for Sikhs and Muslims only occur for items integral to their religious beliefs. | The school will insist that it is not operating a discriminatory policy because allowances made for Sikhs and Muslims only occur for items integral to their religious beliefs. |
| It argues that a Christian pupil would be allowed to wear a crucifix. | It argues that a Christian pupil would be allowed to wear a crucifix. |
| Miss Playfoot's first application to the High Court was turned down last year, but judges agreed to hear it today after she appealed. | Miss Playfoot's first application to the High Court was turned down last year, but judges agreed to hear it today after she appealed. |
| 'Bigger issue' | 'Bigger issue' |
| Miss Playfoot completed her GCSEs last week and has now left the school. | Miss Playfoot completed her GCSEs last week and has now left the school. |
| HAVE YOUR SAY All religious symbols should be kept out of the classroom Chris Gray, Trelawnyd Send us your comments | HAVE YOUR SAY All religious symbols should be kept out of the classroom Chris Gray, Trelawnyd Send us your comments |
| But her father Phil, who is a pastor, said she still wanted to take the case because of its wider significance for all Christians. | But her father Phil, who is a pastor, said she still wanted to take the case because of its wider significance for all Christians. |
| "I think there's something bigger at stake here," he said. | "I think there's something bigger at stake here," he said. |
| Mr Playfoot and his wife Heather are part of the volunteer team which runs the UK branch of the Silver Ring Thing from their church in Horsham. | Mr Playfoot and his wife Heather are part of the volunteer team which runs the UK branch of the Silver Ring Thing from their church in Horsham. |
| The organisers of the movement say as many as 25,000 young people have joined so far in the UK and that numbers are growing. | The organisers of the movement say as many as 25,000 young people have joined so far in the UK and that numbers are growing. |
| Miss Playfoot has received messages of support from politicians, including former Conservative party chairman Lord Tebbit and Tory MP Ann Widdecombe. | Miss Playfoot has received messages of support from politicians, including former Conservative party chairman Lord Tebbit and Tory MP Ann Widdecombe. |
| She also has the backing of the Lawyers Christian Fellowship (LCF) which represents 2,000 Christian lawyers across the UK. | She also has the backing of the Lawyers Christian Fellowship (LCF) which represents 2,000 Christian lawyers across the UK. |
| The case is being funded through individual donations gathered through the LCF's sister group Christian Concern for our Nation. | The case is being funded through individual donations gathered through the LCF's sister group Christian Concern for our Nation. |