Student wins right to wear nose stud in class after arguing ban violated her religious rights as member of Church of Body Modification

But Christian prayer can be forbidden of course

A high school student has won the right to wear a nose stud in class after claiming she was a member of a religious group that practices body modification.

Ariana Iacono, 15, was suspended four times this school year from Clayton High School, North Carolina, for violating the dress code by refusing to remove her small nose stud. The ninth grade student claimed the nose stud was an essential part of her faith in the Church of Body Modification.

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) filed a lawsuit against the school system on her behalf and a federal judge issued a temporary restraining order in October demanding that the school lifted her suspension and allowed her to wear the jewellery.

Officials with the Johnston County Schools said they would drop their appeal of the order, and would settle it out of court 'rather than pursue a lengthy process of hearings, depositions and likely appeals'.

SOURCE

Posted by John J. Ray (M.A.; Ph.D.).