Sharia Law In The UK Unavoidable Says AoC

[Muhsin]

The Archbishop of Canterbury says the adoption of certain aspects of Sharia law in the UK "seems unavoidable".

Dr Rowan Williams told Radio 4's World at One that the UK has to "face up to the fact" that some of its citizens do not relate to the British legal system.

Dr Williams argues that adopting parts of Islamic Sharia law would help maintain social cohesion.

For example, Muslims could choose to have marital disputes or financial matters dealt with in a Sharia court.

He says Muslims should not have to choose between "the stark alternatives of cultural loyalty or state loyalty".

In an exclusive interview with BBC correspondent Christopher Landau, ahead of a lecture to lawyers in London later on Monday, Dr Williams argues this relies on Sharia law being better understood. At the moment, he says "sensational reporting of opinion polls" clouds the issue.

He stresses that "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; states; the extreme punishments, the attitudes to women as well".

But Dr Williams says the argument that "there's one law for everybody... I think that's a bit of a danger".

"There's a place for finding what would be a constructive accommodation with some aspects of Muslim law, as we already do with some other aspects of religious law."

Dr Williams adds: "What we don't want either, is I think, a stand-off, where the law squares up to people's religious consciences."

"We don't either want a situation where, because there's no way of legally monitoring what communities do... people do what they like in private in such a way that that becomes another way of intensifying oppression inside a community."

Multiculturalism 'divisive'

His comments are likely to fuel the debate over multiculturalism in the UK.

Last month, one of Dr William's colleagues, the Bishop of Rochester, said that non-Muslims may find it hard to live or work in some areas of the UK.

The Right Reverend Dr Michael Nazir-Ali said there was "hostility" in some areas and described the government's multicultural policies as divisive.

He said there had been a worldwide resurgence of Islamic extremism, leading to young people growing up alienated from the country they lived in.

He has since received death threats and has been placed under police protection.

That to be mentioned--in public arena, by head of a church, as says one brother in my other forum, is momentous.

And I add; Man yuriidillahu bihi khairan, yufaqqihu bid-deen. May Allah help that AoC understand Muslims welfare and Islam more as at the end of the day, he might embrace Islam, amin.

Broadly speaking, I'm always amazed whenever I hear our own muslims leaders condeming imposement of Shari'ah Law in our States. And or yi mata zagon kasa. Its really a dishhearten story. Allah ya shirye su, amin.

[EMTL]

Assalamu alaikum,
Muhsin,
May Allah (SWT) reward you with Al jannatil Firdaus for sharing this news with us.
Infact, many of those who studied the Bible and the Holy Quran and understood both become Muslims. Islam is the relogion of Allah (SWT).

[EMTL]

Assalamu alaikum,
.......The Archbishop of Canterbury was facing demands to quit last night as the row over sharia law intensified.

Lord George Carey, Dr Williams' predecessor, criticised his comments on sharia law and said that accepting the Islamic code would be a disaster for Britain.

Other leading bishops publicly contradicted Dr Rowan Williams's call for Islamic law to be brought into the British legal system.

With the Church of England plunged into crisis, senior figures were said to be discussing the archbishop's future.

One member of the church's "Cabinet", the Archbishop's Council, was reported as saying: "There have been a lot of calls for him to resign. I don't suppose he will take any notice, but, yes, he should resign."

Officials at Lambeth Palace told the BBC Dr Williams was in a "state of shock" and "completely overwhelmed" by the scale of the row.

It was said that he could not believe the fury of the reaction. The most damaging attack came from the Pakistan-born Bishop of Rochester, the Right Reverend Michael Nazir-Ali.

He said it would be "simply impossible" to bring sharia law into British law "without fundamentally affecting its integrity".

Sharia "would be in tension with the English legal tradition on questions like monogamy, provisions for divorce, the rights of women, custody of children, laws of inheritance and of evidence.

"This is not to mention the relation of freedom of belief and of expression to provisions for blasphemy and apostasy."

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The church's second most senior leader, Archbishop of York Dr John Sentamu, refused to discuss the matter. But he has said sharia law "would never happen" in Britain.

Politicians joined the chorus of condemnation, with Downing Street saying British law should be based on British values. Tory and LibDem leaders also voiced strong criticism.

Even prominent Muslims were rounding on Dr Williams. Shahid Malik, Labour MP for Dewsbury, said: "I haven't experienced any clamour or fervent desire for sharia law in this country.

"If there are people who prefer sharia law there are always countries where they could go and live."

Khalid Mahmood, Labour MP for Birmingham Perry Bar, rejected the idea that British law forces Muslims to choose between their religion and their society.

He said: "This will alienate people from other communities because they will think it is what Muslims want - and it is not."

The Muslim Council of Britain came to Dr Williams's aid, however, describing his comments in a lecture to lawyers and a BBC interview as "thoughtful".

But Oxford University Islamic scholar Professor Tariq Ramadan admitted: "These kinds of statements just feed the fears of fellow citizens. I really think we, as Muslims, need to come up with something that we abide by the common law and within these latitudes there are possibilities for us to be faithful to Islamic principles."

The archbishop is likely to come under heavy fire next week at a meeting of the Church's General Synod.

Liberal and feminist critics have been appalled by the thought of sharia law while evangelical opponents believe Dr Williams has failed to defend Christianity.

The archbishop was already battling intractable difficulties within the church over gay rights, a row which began nearly five years ago and has brought him criticism from all sides. Later this year he has to face a conference of hundreds of bishops from around the world which threatens further bitter division.

Dr Williams's opponents on the conservative evangelical wing - who resent his liberal beliefs on issues such as gay rights - were suggesting last night that the archbishop is finished.

The Reverend Paul Dawson of the Reform group of around 500 clergy said: "We are very sad that he does not seem to be able to articulate a clear Christian vision for Britain. It is true to say that there is a lot of dissatisfaction."

Dr Williams defended himself in a Lambeth Palace statement saying he had been trying to "tease out" the issue.

The archbishop had said it could help build a better and more cohesive society if Muslims were able to choose to have marital disputes or financial matters, for example, dealt with in a sharia court. The adoption of some elements of sharia law "seems unavoidable".

But the statement insisted: "The archbishop made no proposals for sharia, and certainly did not call for its introduction as some kind of parallel jurisdiction to the civil law."

Even fellow bishops, however, think this is precisely what Dr Williams did say.

Bishop of Southwark Tom Butler, a liberal who would normally be expected to defend Dr Williams, said the archbishop had been entering a minefield and added: "It will take a great deal of thought and work before I think it is a good idea."

He was more blunt in a circular to clergy in his diocese, saying he had yet to be convinced of the feasibility of incorporating any non-Christian religious law into the English legal system.

[Muhsin]

Allah ya saka da alkhairi, EMTL. Wish I had enough time to respond fully. Stay blessed and bye.

[King]

When I heard this Bishop's commentary on BBC, I knew a backlash would follow. The English law allows for complete religious freedom for people of all faiths. The very significant muslim population in London coupled with their unhindered right to assembly and worship is a testimony to the religious and human rights that muslim enjoy not only in the UK, but in most of Western Europe as well.
What I see however is always a case of double standard in the case of non muslims living in Islamic countries. The same freedoms and rights that muslims enjoy in the west are not accorded to non Muslims.
Why is that though? Where is the fairness?

[HUSNAA]

Which shows you know absolutely nothing about Islam and Islamic sharia law. So stop being sanctimonious and pompous about it. If the English laws allowed complete religious freedom for muslims, then NO ONE would object to  the Arch bishops suggestions. Sharia laws are part of the practical observations of the Islamic religion. Muslims have not been allowed the total freedom to practice Islam because Islam does not recognize the secular laws in existence everywhere in the world. Muslims just have to make do with what they are allowed to practice as a matter of rule.  If u are talking of double standards, why doesnt the vatican city have a mosque or allow Islam to flourish there?

This forum welcomes discussions which are beneficial and thought provoking from muslims and non muslims alike. What it takes exception to are ppl who are phenomenally ignorant when it comes to Islam yet are so jaundiced and prejudiced that they dont even try to couch their disdain in moderate language when writing and are not out to seek any further elucidation of the Islamic religion, but rather, are trying to display an unwarranted and unmerited superiority which comes across as nothing but premeditated conceit brought about by their illiterate blunderings into the Islamic religion.

I hope you are not one of them.

[mlbash]

Alhamdulillah ala kulli halin! let the truth be told and those whom Allah bless would move from the pitch of darkness to the light of islam.

[Muhsin]

Alhamdulillah ala kulli halin! let the truth be told and those whom Allah bless would move from the pitch of darkness to the light of islam.

Exactly my thoughts and prayer about the whole issue, mblash. Furthermore, EMTL had also mentioned it that way; if any Christian studied his religion very well, they mostly end up in becoming/converting to Islam. There are bundles of such people, I know that.