From the Express
A private members bill due to be voted on today would stop religious organisations from pretending to be able to act as a court when they have no legal.
Around 85 Sharia courts are thought to exist in Britain and the
Arbitration and Mediation Services (Equality) Bill, first introduced by Baroness Caroline Cox, which has already been passed in the Lords, will also force them to stop discriminating against women.
The bill comes amid growing concern over the way Sharia courts are being used by many in the Muslim community as an alternative legal system in Britain and how they are systematically discriminating against women in civil cases such as divorce.
The bill was first introduced by humanitarian campaigner Baroness Caroline Cox amid concerns over “systematic” discrimination against women in these quasi-legal systems including Sharia courts.She said: “Today MPs get the opportunity to help women whose suffering would make the suffragettes turn in their graves. Countless victims of religiously-sanctioned gender discrimination are being treated as second class citizens, no better than the chattels of their husbands…While the Bill respects the fundamental principle of freedom of religion and belief, we cannot allow rulings which are incompatible with the laws, values, principles and policies of our country.”
It is also understood that the all-male courts are rigged against women fuelled by “a toxic mix of religious fundamentalism, culture and tight-knit communities” according to a book published last year.
Writer and researcher Machteld Zee, a Dutch academic, said: “Sharia councils uphold the theory and practice of the strong hold men have over women…There are, in fact, two separate legal orders functioning in the UK of which one currently operates in the shadow of the law.
Sharia is the basic Islamic legal system derived from the religious precepts of Islam, particularly the Quran and the Hadith, and while it is practised by many, has no standing within English law.
Existing legislation permits arbitration to operate according to Sharia principles.
However, according to evidence given to Parliament, many Sharia courts are going beyond their legal remit.
It is claimed that women are often intimidated into compliance and many are prevented from access to independent advice and support. There are also widespread concerns about the precarious position of women in unrecognised Islamic marriages.
Fiona Bruce MP, who is backing the measures in the House of Commons, said: “At its simplest this legislation would stop this discriminatory parallel legal system from operating in a way that is wholly incompatible with our own. It would ensure that, regardless of a person’s sex, they would be treated the same way and in accordance with British law.”
The Bill has been backed by evidence of appalling judgements made by the Sharia courts against women. Following a forced marriage, Sara applied to a Sharia council for an Islamic divorce. Despite gaining a civil divorce through the British courts, she was “pressurised” by the council to return to her ‘husband’.
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