Sharia Law

Gosh, Becky, I'm quite shocked. I hadn't seen this so had to look it up. (Here's the link BTW: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7232661.stm )
It's true that there is already an Orthodox Jewish court (my friend was advised to take a property dispute with her Hasidic neighbours to this court) but I would imagine that the Orthodox Jewish community is smaller than the Muslim community. (Am I wrong? I really don't know.)
But I, for one, wouldn't be happy if UK adopted Sharia Law in any form and can't see that it's 'unavoidable'.
Now I'm going to sit back and watch this thread: I've got a bet with myself
as to what the majority of posters are going to say.

xxx

In the case of civil law (and it was only the civil aspect of sharia the archbishop was referring to), I don't see a problem with official recognition of it. Muslims should be able to live by their own civil laws, with disputes between non-muslims, or a muslim and a non-muslim, being dealt with by normal UK law... UK law would always supercede that of sharia law if the results of the sharia "court" were to be deemed unacceptable by one or both parties.

What bothers me is that the examples cited are that sharia law would be used in divorce and marital disputes. And sharia law has such a bad press in that its conceived to be very repressive towards women. I stand ready to be corrected if I'm wrong.

xx

And sharia law has such a bad press

I think that's the point. Individual Muslim states interpret Sharia law very differently from others.

I listened to the archbishop on the radio this afternoon and I thought he made some very good points in support of the recognition of aspects of Sharia law.

There's a link to the interview on this page... http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7233335.stm

It's true that there is already an Orthodox Jewish court (my friend was advised to take a property dispute with her Hasidic neighbours to this court) but I would imagine that the Orthodox Jewish community is smaller than the Muslim community.

I think that's an argument for taking a serious look at this proposition.

Sorry but I totally dis-agree with Rowan Williams. I personally feel you can't have two sets of law in this country. That effectively means that an individual can, in theory, choose which bit of the law does or does not apply to him/her.
I am really all for a free and multi cultural society here in the UK, but why ANY group should feel they can expect this country to change its legal system is beyond me.
The laws of the uk have evolved over many years and we have one of the finest legal systems in the world which deal with all aspects of our life.
Rowan Williams should hang his head in shame, and consider his position as head of the Church.

Sorry, but if you want to live in another country irrespective of where it is, you have to abide by the laws of that country - end of.

Abuse of HR of non-Muslims under sharia- case study.

In the case of civil law (and it was only the civil aspect of sharia the archbishop was referring to), I don't see a problem with official recognition of it. Muslims should be able to live by their own civil laws, with disputes between non-muslims, or a muslim and a non-muslim, being dealt with by normal UK law... UK law would always supercede that of sharia law if the results of the sharia "court" were to be deemed unacceptable by one or both parties.

Hi Krissie,

This is a complete misunderstanding of the true position.

Even in the limited application that you are referring to such adoption is completely unacceptable. The reasons are amply illustrated by the case of the Hindu wife whose rights were trampled in Malaysia under precisely the circumstances you describe. Please see:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7161177.stm

Regards. 🙂

Prashna

Hi.

I agree that if you live in another country, then you abide by that country's laws.
I live in France and wouldn't presume to change how they live here...I don't have the right to change how anyone lives, I can only change my own way of life.

France is very different to the UK in culture and attitude. They are wonderful, helpful people but too many British come here expecting the French to adapt to them, instead of the other way around.

Yes, there are aspects of France which I just can't understand...their business attitude for one and their crazy labour laws, which stifles creativity and job prospects, but there is nothing to be done until the President changes them, if he ever does.

France is a great country to live in as long as you are prepared to accept their ways.
C'est la vie!

Sharia Law- a fait accompli?

I have just been watching the news and the Archbishop of Canterbury has just said that Sharia Law in the UK looks like it's going to be inevitable because "many muslims can't relate to UK law"
Love and Angel Hugs

Rebecca XXXX

Hi Becky,

I believe you are referring to [url]this page.[/url]

As I see it, Rowan Williams has talked about a fait accompli.

Parts of Sharia Law has already been adopted in UK!

One example is the change of the law regarding abattoirs to allow ritual slaughter to satisfy the Sharia requirements.

As a results many thousands of livestock are subjected to needless cruelty to satisfy Islamic religious requirements.

There are other examples.

Regards.

Prashna

One point that was made on BBC's Question Time last night was that religious law (ie Sharia Law or Orthodox Jewish Law) means religious law as opposed to the law of the land. I don't know about anyone else but when Sharia Law is talked about I automatically have this vision of a court of law with a mullah sitting in place of the Judge with his wig and robes. As pointed out by Prashna above, under Sharia law animals must be slaughtered in a certain way. Kosher dietary requirements come under Orthodox Jewish law. But this doesn't involve criminals being tried for their crimes. I don't believe that Rowan Williams is advocating stoning adulteresses to death or cutting off the hands of thieves. I think we must try not to be too emotional in our response to this. Having said that, I am still opposed to us going any further down the road of separation....

xxx

I don't believe that Rowan Williams is advocating stoning adulteresses to death or cutting off the hands of thieves. I think we must try not to be too emotional in our response to this.

Quite right, and the emotional, knee-jerk reaction has been all too predictable.

From the BBC...

"Dr. Williams stressed 'nobody in their right mind would want to see in this country the kind of inhumanity that's sometimes been associated with the practice of the law in some Islamic states; the extreme punishments, the attitudes to women as well'."

"Under English law, people may devise their own way to settle a dispute in front of an agreed third party as long as both sides agree to the process."

"The Muslim Council of Britain said it was a complex issue in need of debate, but stressed it would only involve a "small aspect" of the law."

Now I'm going to sit back and watch this thread: I've got a bet with myself
as to what the majority of posters are going to say.

xxx

Go on, Sunanda - write my post for me!

Go on, Sunanda - write my post for me!

I wouldn't dream of it, Nick!:)

But I was gobsmacked to find that someone in the Indy - hang on a mo....Paul Vallely it was - has written an article which says more or less what I said in my last post. And I have to say that I wrote that before I bought the paper! Spooky eh?:cool:

All in all though, I think it might have been politic for the Archbishop to keep his own council on this matter. There seems to be no real need for him to air his views at this moment in time....and many good reasons for him to keep his opinions to himself. IMO.

xxx

if i can put my twopennworth in when in rome, how often do we have to bend over backwards for those who are guests in our country yes guests, we should be unique in our laws they have evolved over hundreds of years and these guests should learn in our country abide by our laws my god what next paying more benefit to those with multiple marriges, oh yes we do