A Christian foster mother who was struck off when a young Muslim girl in her care converted to Christianity has won a landmark legal case against a politically correct council in the North East of England.
The experienced carer was banned by the Labour-run Gateshead Council from looking after vulnerable youngsters because she failed to stop the 16-year-old from being baptised and converting to Christianity. Following the council's decision the foster mother was forced to leave her home and another girl she was also looking after was taken back into care.
The mother said: "Gateshead's actions have had a devastating impact on me. In addition to losing the girl, another girl I was looking after was taken back into care. I lost the farmhouse I rented to look after vulnerable teenagers, due to loss of income. I just want to get my life back." She is now negotiating with Gateshead Council for compensation to restore what she describes as her "battered financial state" and resume her status as a registered foster carer.
The Muslim girl was placed in the foster home in 2007 after pleading to be taken away from her abusive father and the possibility of a forced marriage.
Gateshead Council told the foster mother to accommodate the girl's Muslim faith, but the teenager said she wanted to make her own choices and starting attending church with her foster mother.
Council chiefs said the girl had endangered her own safety by breaching strict Sharia laws against conversion and that her foster mother was "indoctrinating chidren in her care".
The foster mother's solicitior said: "At the heart of this case is a young person's right to choose her faith and a foster carer's right to practise her faith."
Margaret Whellans, Gateshead Council group director for learning and children, said: "The council accepts there were irregularities in the process that led to the de-registration of the foster carer."
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