To and 'fro court battle over schoolboy's hairstyle

Call that a 'fro? Billal Zraika whose lawyers are arguing in court his hairstyle had cultural significance. Picture: David Marshall Source: The Daily Telegraph

No mo fro ... Billal after his haircut. Picture: David Marshall Source: The Daily Telegraph

• Boy allowed to stay in school after parties settle
• Lawyers argued the hairstyle has cultural significance 
• Boy must trim afro to "satisfactory" length and keep it that way

IT was the haircut that made waves in the playground but has now gone all the way to a courtroom.

But lawyers for Mazin Zraika, the father of teenager Bilal Zraika, and the Australian Islamic College in Rooty Hill in Sydney's west have settled out of court after being urged by Justice Elizabeth Fullerton to resolve the issue and avoid a drawn-out legal battle.

Mr Zraika sued the school after it expelled his son for his afro hairstyle - a look the college say isn't in accordance with its uniform policy.

There was an injunction granted on the expulsion and Bilal continued to attend the school as a year nine student, pending the outcome of the court case.

But today the two parties reached an out-of-court settlement in which Billal will cut his 'fro "to a length that is satisfactory to the principal" and will be allowed to continue at the school, Fairfax reports.

Mr Zraika's statement of claim to the court said the school breached its contract to provide "religious and secular education."

The family say the boy's hairstyle was a result of his Ethiopian and Lebanese heritage.

But they say that even after he changed it to a "crew cut" style, he was still forced into isolation and kept away from classmates while being told to catch up on work he'd missed- but was still then slapped with an expulsion order.

Mr Zraika wanted the order to be set aside but barrister Anthony Cheshire, acting for the school, said the "principal or the school can simply expel a child."

The court heard the expulsion came because of a continued "non compliance" with school policy.

Justice Fullerton asked whether his hair had been cut "in a short, back and sides" style but his father, who is in court for the hearing, indicated the boy's hair is once again long.

Justice Fullerton urged lawyers to "resolve" the matter so that the "young gentleman is able to stay at school, mix with his peers and receive a round education" with this issue "put behind him."

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