UK NEWS

BRITAIN ‘HAS AT LEAST 85 SHARIA LAW COURTS’

DENIED HUMAN RIGHTS: Women are not permitted to divorce

Monday June 29,2009

By Macer Hall

AT LEAST 85 Islamic Sharia courts are operating in Britain, an investigation reveals today.

Muslim clerics are handing out hundreds of Sharia judgments – known as fatwas – through mosques around the country, the probe found.

They are being published on internet websites run by Muslim groups.

The findings raised serious concerns last night that a secretive network is being established alongside the judicial system. They will intensify calls for Sharia to be recognised by the legal establishment.

The report is by the Westminster-based think-tank Civitas. Author Denis MacEoin said: “It is a challenge to what we believe to be the rights and freedoms of the individual, to our concept of a legal system based on what Parliament enacts and to the right of all to live in a society as free as possible from ethnic-religious division.” It was thought only about five Sharia courts were operating in Britain in London, Manchester, Bradford, Birmingham and Nuneaton.

But informed sources within Muslim communities told Mr MacEoin that the figure was at least 85. He said the courts are concentrated in urban areas with high Muslim populations, such as the West Midlands.

According to his research, rulings carried out included:

Banning women from marrying non-Muslims.

Approving a man marrying up to four wives.

Depriving non-Muslim relatives of inheritance.

Denying divorced women property rights.

Banning women from leaving home without husband’s consent.

Severe punishment for homosexuals.

Mr MacEoin claims Islamic rulings were incompatible with human rights and British tradition and called for Sharia courts to be excluded from recognition under arbitration laws.

David Green, director of Civitas, said: “Sharia courts are, in practice, part of an institutionalised atmosphere of intimidation, backed by the ultimate sanction of a death threat.”