.... the proposal was rejected by the Home Office, citing concerns it would legitimise Islamic law “Sharia law has no jurisdiction in the UK and we would not facilitate or endorse regulation, which could present councils as an alternative to UK laws”, a Home Office spokesperson said.
Many Islamic marriages carried out in the UK, are religious only, and are never registered. Women who wish to obtain a divorce are forced to go to Sharia councils, often dominated by men and beyond scrutiny thus depriving subjects of the legal protections of civil marriage.
The report said that legislating to enforce such registration would ensure “a greater number of women will have the full protection afforded to them in family law and the right to a civil divorce, lessening the need to attend and simplifying the decision process of sharia councils”.
The report also recommended introducing legislation that would force civil marriages to be performed at the same time or before Islamic marriages, officially recognising them under British law.
The report also recommended awareness campaigns in order to inform of women’s rights in civil law, particularly in the areas of marriage and divorce.
The exact number of Sharia councils operating in the United Kingdom is unknown, but estimates range from 30 to 85. [The National] Read more
