LONDON // The British government began drawing up new legal guidelines yesterday in a bid to override a court ruling outlawing the centuries-old tradition of saying prayers at the start of local council meetings.
Politicians and church leaders were dismayed after a councillor from Devon, backed by the National Secular Society (NSS), succeeded in an appeal to the High Court in London. It ruled on Friday that prayers should not be on the formal agendas of council meetings - a tradition that dates back almost 500 years.
There were fears that, in the wake of the ruling, atheists would mount challenges to prayers in parliament and even the singing of the national anthem, God Save the Queen, during this year's celebrations marking the queen's 60 years on the throne.
Bishop Michael Nazir-Ali, the former Bishop of Rochester, said there was "a huge constitutional implication" behind the ruling. "Where will this stop?" he asked. "By a test case about prayer in parliament?"
The ruling not only worried Christians but those of other faiths. Mohammed Shafiq, the chief executive of the Ramadhan Foundation, an Islamic educational campaign group, described the judgment as an "attack on all faith".
"We are a religious country, a majority Christian country," he said. "As people of faith - whether we take inspiration from Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Hinduism or whatever - we should take pride in that and be able to say prayers. I think this judgment is a step back. It is an attack against freedom."
Clive Bone, then a councillor in Bideford, Devon, launched his legal challenge in July 2010. Backed by the NSS, he based his case on European human-rights laws. He said he felt discriminated against, as a non-believer, at having to be part of prayers during council proceedings.
The High Court rejected the argument that it breached human rights or amounted to discrimination but it ruled that prayers could not be part of a council agenda because the statutory powers did not exist for them to be included.
Eric Pickles, the coalition government's communities' secretary, has ordered government lawyers to draw up emergency guidelines that will allow councils, in effect, to ignore the ruling. In the longer term, new legislation will give councils the "general power of competence" to reinstate prayers, a spokesman in his department said yesterday.
"It's been part of our rights; our ancestors have fought long and hard for the ability to have free religious assembly," said Mr Pickles. "This still remains a Christian country. We have an established Church of which the Queen is the head - these kind of ceremonies have been taking place for a long time and I think it's only right they should be respected.
"I think there's nothing wrong in standing up for part of British traditional Christian culture, as indeed I think it's absolutely right that we should stand up to defend British Muslims. We've stood for religious tolerance in this country, and it does seem to me that this judgment is a deeply illiberal and intolerant judgment."
dsapsted@thenational.ae
The specs
Engine: Turbocharged four-cylinder 2.7-litre
Power: 325hp
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Jeff Buckley: From Hallelujah To The Last Goodbye
By Dave Lory with Jim Irvin
BORDERLANDS
Starring: Cate Blanchett, Kevin Hart, Jamie Lee Curtis
Director: Eli Roth
Rating: 0/5
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Xpanceo
Started: 2018
Founders: Roman Axelrod, Valentyn Volkov
Based: Dubai, UAE
Industry: Smart contact lenses, augmented/virtual reality
Funding: $40 million
Investor: Opportunity Venture (Asia)
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Married Malala
Malala Yousafzai is enjoying married life, her father said.
The 24-year-old married Pakistan cricket executive Asser Malik last year in a small ceremony in the UK.
Ziauddin Yousafzai told The National his daughter was ‘very happy’ with her husband.
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Chatham House Rule
A mark of Chatham House’s influence 100 years on since its founding, was Moscow’s formal declaration last month that it was an “undesirable
organisation”.
The depth of knowledge and academics that it drew on
following the Ukraine invasion had broadcast Mr Putin’s chicanery.
The institute is more used to accommodating world leaders,
with Nelson Mandela, Margaret Thatcher among those helping it provide
authoritative commentary on world events.
Chatham House was formally founded as the Royal Institute of
International Affairs following the peace conferences of World War One. Its
founder, Lionel Curtis, wanted a more scientific examination of international affairs
with a transparent exchange of information and ideas.
That arena of debate and analysis was enhanced by the “Chatham
House Rule” states that the contents of any meeting can be discussed outside Chatham
House but no mention can be made identifying individuals who commented.
This has enabled some candid exchanges on difficult subjects
allowing a greater degree of free speech from high-ranking figures.
These meetings are highly valued, so much so that
ambassadors reported them in secret diplomatic cables that – when they were
revealed in the Wikileaks reporting – were thus found to have broken the rule. However,
most speeches are held on the record.
Its research and debate has offered fresh ideas to
policymakers enabling them to more coherently address troubling issues from climate
change to health and food security.
Confirmed%20bouts%20(more%20to%20be%20added)
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The Prison Letters of Nelson Mandela
Edited by Sahm Venter
Published by Liveright
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
Scoreline:
Manchester City 1
Jesus 4'
Brighton 0
Pearls on a Branch: Oral Tales
Najlaa Khoury, Archipelago Books
The biog
Name: Abeer Al Shahi
Emirate: Sharjah – Khor Fakkan
Education: Master’s degree in special education, preparing for a PhD in philosophy.
Favourite activities: Bungee jumping
Favourite quote: “My people and I will not settle for anything less than first place” – Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid.
BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE
Starring: Winona Ryder, Michael Keaton, Jenny Ortega
Director: Tim Burton
Rating: 3/5
Kill%20
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
RESULTS
6pm: Mazrat Al Ruwayah – Group 2 (PA) $40,000 (Dirt) 1,600m
Winner: AF Alajaj, Tadhg O’Shea (jockey), Ernst Oertel (trainer)
6.35pm: Race of Future – Handicap (TB) $80,000 (Turf) 2,410m
Winner: Global Storm, William Buick, Charlie Appleby
7.10pm: UAE 2000 Guineas – Group 3 (TB) $150,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner: Azure Coast, Antonio Fresu, Pavel Vashchenko
7.45pm: Business Bay Challenge – Listed (TB) $100,000 (T) 1,400m
Winner: Storm Damage, Patrick Cosgrave, Saeed bin Suroor
20.20pm: Curlin Stakes – Listed (TB) $100,000 (D) 2,000m
Winner: Appreciated, Fernando Jara, Doug O’Neill
8.55pm: Singspiel Stakes – Group 2 (TB) $180,000 (T) 1,800m
Winner: Lord Glitters, Daniel Tudhope, David O'Meara
9.30pm: Al Shindagha Sprint – Group 3 (TB) $150,000 (D) 1,200m
Winner: Meraas, Antonio Fresu, Musabah Al Muhairi
The specs
Engine: 2.7-litre 4-cylinder Turbomax
Power: 310hp
Torque: 583Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh192,500
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Blackpink World Tour [Born Pink] In Cinemas
Starring: Rose, Jisoo, Jennie, Lisa
Directors: Min Geun, Oh Yoon-Dong
Rating: 3/5
SPECS
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Auron Mein Kahan Dum Tha
Starring: Ajay Devgn, Tabu, Shantanu Maheshwari, Jimmy Shergill, Saiee Manjrekar
Director: Neeraj Pandey
Rating: 2.5/5
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre turbo
Power: 181hp
Torque: 230Nm
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Starting price: Dh79,000
On sale: Now
The specs
Engine: Long-range single or dual motor with 200kW or 400kW battery
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Max touring range: 620km / 590km
Price: From Dh250,000 (estimated)
Company%20Profile
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Hot%20Seat
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SPECS%3A%20Polestar%203
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