Archbishop of Canterbury on Sharia Law

[faceless]

I don't see that the big fuss is all about - there's already one law for the rich after all...

(stay tuned for more obvious satire later!)

[luke]

depends on the individual law - but like the example one, about marriage - i don't see any problem with things like that, i mean marriage is all about religion anyway so you should be allowed to do whatever the custom is in your religion, like jews this or buddhists that. its like some christian group came out and said recently what the bible says should take precedence over government laws for them. then i'll convert to the rastafarian religion and claim my weed is for religious purposes and i'm immune from the law

i could see it being very complicated to do though - again it depends on the individual law, some you probably couldn't do

[nekokate]

There was a documentary I've downloaded from 4oD that aired a few days ago about Sharia courts in the UK. It was specifically focussed on marriage laws and it was quite interesting.

It all depends how far people want to take it. In a sense, Sharia courts do operate, and have been operating for years, in the UK, but they operate within British law at the same time - for instance they can't rule that someone have their hand chopped off or anything, but they can grant Muslim people divorces and make rulings on family feuds, etc.

I've got no problem with that sort of thing, since it's none of my business, but the idea that British law should embrace the more extreme sorts of rulings that you could find in places like Saudi Arabia is mental - that will never happen. Most British Muslims are glad of that, too, I'd imagine. The idea that they'd welcome death penalties seems a bit crazy to me.

It's the Daily Mail type people who try to confuse the issue by comparing the fact that some Muslims obtain fatwas (which basically just means "rulings") from Sheikhs within the UK to the sort of judgements handed down in Arab prison states when really there is no comparison at all. You wouldn't condemn all Americans based on the fact that some in Utah are allowed more than one wife, or that some in the Deep South can marry their horse, so why get hysterical about a mild Sharia court in London that bears no resemblance at all even to Sharia in progressive Iran, let alone Saudi Arabia or The Sudan?

[luke]

interesting, thanks kate - i'll have to look into this 4od thing

i did see documentary about people somewhere in america marrying horses i don't think theres anything in any of the major religions practicing that but you never know ...

[Mandy]

I don't see what the fuss is all about.

People join clubs and agree to be bound by their terms. That's the law of contract.

Similarly, if two people voluntarily said they prefer to resolve their disputes via a religious mediation, then again that is there choice, and legal rights in the UK to do so.

The Archbishop never said people will be compelled to waive their legal protection.

[Skylace]

God, I know I need a creme egg. When I first read the title of this post I thought it sad the Archbishop of Cadbury.

[nekokate]

[luke]

[Skylace]

[faceless]

I just watched the Archbishop responding to his critics - he basically told them they should be Christian and accept others! haha, good on him.

I wish I was in a position of authority that meant I could upset the little Englanders who don't know how to separate religion from nationalism. I'd do it every week.

[luke]

[SpursFan1902]

[Ash]

Anyone knows if the entire lecture series is available online (preferably in audio format)? AFAIK, Dr. Williams was the first lecturer on this lecture series about Islamic Jurisprudence

thanks