Post by angli_fan on Jun 11, 2011 16:20:53 GMT -5
[from The Christian Institute]
Bishop Michael Nazir-Ali says he supports a Bill introduced this week in the House of Lords to tackle problems caused by Sharia courts operating in England and Wales.
The Bill aims to make it clear in law that discrimination against women within arbitration tribunals is illegal, and to stop a parallel legal system of Sharia law taking root.
The Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams has not commented on the Bill, nor has the Government.
But Bishop Michael Nazir-Ali, who grew up in Pakistan and is the former Bishop of Rochester, gave it his backing.
He said: “People in this country are free to practise whatever faith they have. But at the same time we have a very long tradition of people being equal under the law.
“The problem with Sharia is that it is inherently unequal for certain kinds of people. Muslims and non-Muslims are treated unequally. Similarly, men and women are treated unequally.
“So if Sharia is recognised in any way in terms of the public law in this country, that introduces a principle of contradiction in the body of the law which will cause problems for the country and for people who will suffer, particularly women.”
Read More at:
www.christian.org.uk/news/bishop-backs-bill-to-tackle-sharia-courts/
Bishop Michael Nazir-Ali says he supports a Bill introduced this week in the House of Lords to tackle problems caused by Sharia courts operating in England and Wales.
The Bill aims to make it clear in law that discrimination against women within arbitration tribunals is illegal, and to stop a parallel legal system of Sharia law taking root.
The Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams has not commented on the Bill, nor has the Government.
But Bishop Michael Nazir-Ali, who grew up in Pakistan and is the former Bishop of Rochester, gave it his backing.
He said: “People in this country are free to practise whatever faith they have. But at the same time we have a very long tradition of people being equal under the law.
“The problem with Sharia is that it is inherently unequal for certain kinds of people. Muslims and non-Muslims are treated unequally. Similarly, men and women are treated unequally.
“So if Sharia is recognised in any way in terms of the public law in this country, that introduces a principle of contradiction in the body of the law which will cause problems for the country and for people who will suffer, particularly women.”
Read More at:
www.christian.org.uk/news/bishop-backs-bill-to-tackle-sharia-courts/