Sharia courts and Europe

en staff  |  UK & Ireland
Date posted:  1 Mar 2019
Share Add       
Sharia courts and Europe

On 22 January, the Council of Europe1 called on the UK to examine the way sharia councils are operating in the UK.

Resolution 2253 2 said: ‘The Assembly is concerned about the “judicial” activities of “sharia councils” in the United Kingdom. Although they are not considered part of the British legal system, sharia councils attempt to provide a form of alternative dispute resolution, whereby members of the Muslim community, sometimes voluntarily, often under considerable social pressure, accept their religious jurisdiction mainly in marital and Islamic divorce issues, but also in matters relating to inheritance and Islamic commercial contracts. The Assembly is concerned that the rulings of the sharia councils clearly discriminate against women in divorce and inheritance cases.’

Operate within the law

The UK was asked to report back on the resolutions by June 2020. Included in the resolution, the UK is to:

Share
< Previous article| UK & Ireland| Next article >
Read more articles by en staff >>
People
Evangelical leader responds to Kemi Badenoch comments

Evangelical leader responds to Kemi Badenoch comments

John Stevens, the National Director of the Fellowship of Independent Evangelical Churches, has been among those responding to Tory leader …

People
Entertainer boss hands business to workers

Entertainer boss hands business to workers

The Christian entrepreneur Gary Grant, who established The Entertainer toy shop chain, has been widely praised for deciding to hand …

About en

Our vision, values and history

Read more

New here?

Register and get three free articles each month!

Register