This article is from 'guardian', was first published or seen on Thu Feb 07 14:02:38 UTC 2008 and has 5 versions.

It has 10 recommendations - Recommend this revision.

Next version »
Version 0 Version 1

Archbishop backs Sharia law for British Muslims | The Guardian |

Thu Feb 07 14:10:11 UTC 2008

Archbishop backs sharia law for British Muslims | The Guardian |

Thu Feb 07 14:20:36 UTC 2008
The Archbishop of Canterbury said today Sharia law should be introduced in the UK for Muslims.The Archbishop of Canterbury said today sharia law should be introduced in the UK for Muslims.
Rowan Williams told BBC Radio 4's World at One the introduction of the controversial system of Islamic justice in the UK was "unavoidable".Rowan Williams told BBC Radio 4's World at One the introduction of the controversial system of Islamic justice in the UK was "unavoidable".
Williams said Muslims should be able to choose whether to have matters such as marital disputes dealt with under Sharia law or the British legal system.Williams said Muslims should be able to choose whether to have matters such as marital disputes dealt with under sharia law or the British legal system.
He said giving Sharia official status in the UK would help maintain social cohesion because some Muslims do not relate to the British legal system.He said giving sharia official status in the UK would help maintain social cohesion because some Muslims do not relate to the British legal system.
Article continues Its introduction would mean Muslims would no longer have to choose between "the stark alternatives of cultural loyalty or state loyalty", he said. Article continues Its introduction would mean Muslims would no longer have to choose between "the stark alternatives of cultural loyalty or state loyalty", he said.
Williams said his proposal would only work if Sharia law was properly understood, rather than seen through the eyes of biased media reports.Williams said his proposal would only work if sharia law was properly understood, rather than seen through the eyes of biased media reports.
He said he was not proposing the adoption of extreme interpretations of Sharia law practiced in some repressive regimes.He said he was not proposing the adoption of extreme interpretations of sharia law practiced in some repressive regimes.
"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," he said. "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," he said.