U.K. girl loses full veil challenge

LONDON, Feb. 21 (UPI) -- Britain's high court Wednesday ruled that a 12-year-old Muslim schoolgirl cannot wear a full face veil, or niqab, to school.

The girl identified in court documents only as "X" had challenged her school in Buckinghamshire when officials demanded she stop wearing the niqab last September.

The school has about 120 Muslim students, and many wear the headscarf covering called a hijab, but none wear the niqab, which has only a slit to see through, the BBC said.

Justice Silber said there were several factors that affected his ruling, including school security, which could be breached by anyone wearing a niqab, and the fact teachers couldn't see the girl's facial expression, which he said was an important element of teaching.

The judge also denied her attorneys the right to appeal, the report said.

The girl has been studying at home since last year, and declined an offer from another school that would allow the niqab, as she said she wants to return to her original school.