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Sharia law is now legally binding in UK |
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Written by Islamic Times
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Wednesday, 17 September 2008 |
Five Sharia courts in Britain now have "official" powers to rule on Muslim civil cases, according to a report.
The rulings made by the five courts in London, Birmingham, Bradford, Manchester and Nun-eaton in Warwickshire are enforceable with the full power of the judicial system, through the county courts or high court, according to the Sunday Times. The issues that the "official" Sharia courts can rule on range from financial rows to divorce and domestic violence.
Two more Sharia courts will be started in Edinburgh and Glasgow soon, the report said.
Till now, the rulings of Sharia courts in Britain could not be enforced and depended on voluntary compliance among Muslims.
The Sharia courts are run by Muslim Arbitration Tribunal, which was set up in 2007 to provide a viable alternative for the Muslim community seeking to resolve disputes in accordance with Islamic law. UK Muslim lawyer Shaykh Faiz Siddiqi, is chairman of the governing council of the Muslim Arbitration Tribuna.
Shaykh Faiz Siddiqi, according to the report, had taken advantage of a clause in the Arbitration Act 1996 to give rulings of the sharia courts legal backing. Under the Arbitration Act 1996, the Sharia courts are classified as arbitration tribunals.
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