LONDON: The Archbishop of Canterbury drew criticism from across the political spectrum on Feb 7, 2008, after he backed the introduction of Sharia law in Britain and argued that adopting some aspects of it seemed “unavoidable”.

Rowan Williams, the most senior figure in the Church of England, said giving Islamic law official status in the UK would help to achieve social cohesion because some Muslims did not relate to the British legal system.

His comment in a lecture on civil and religious law given at the Royal Courts of Justice, in London, were swiftly rebutted by the UK prime minister’s spokesman, who insisted British law would be based on British values and that Sharia law would be no justification for acting against national law.

“Our general position is that Sharia law cannot be used as a justification for committing breaches of English law, nor should the principles of Sharia law be included in a civil court for resolving contractual disputes.

“If there are specific instances like stamp duty, where changes can be made in a way that’s consistent with British law and British values, in a way to accommodate the values of fundamental Muslims, that is something the government would look at. “The Anglican primate was also criticised by the Opposition Conservative Sayeeda Warsi, a member of the UK House of Lords and who speaks for the Conservatives on community cohesion and social action matters.

“The archbishop’s comments are unhelpful and may add to the confusion that already exists in our communities. We must ensure that people of all backgrounds and religions are treated equally before the law. Freedom under the law allows respect for some religious practices. But let’s be absolutely clear: all British citizens must be subject to British laws developed through parliament and the courts.”

Sharia law sets out a broad code of conduct for all aspects of life from diet, wearing of the hijab to marriage and divorce.

British courts do not recognise Islamic marriages carried out in the UK unless they are registered separately with the civil authorities. The result is that some Muslims think they are protected by family law when they are not, and others can think they are properly divorced, when they are still married. However, Britain recognises Islamic marriages and divorces conducted in Muslim countries such as Pakistan or Bangladesh.

Some Muslim groups supported Williams’ views.

The Ramadhan Foundation, an educational and welfare body, said the speech was “testament to his attempts to understand Islam and promote tolerance and respect between our great faiths”.

More than 800 people were in the Great Hall of the Royal Courts of Justice for last night’s speech, while another 200 poured into the overspill marquee.

Williams said introducing Sharia law would mean Muslims would no longer have to choose between two systems.

“If what we want socially is a pattern of relations in which a plurality of diverse and overlapping affiliations work for a common good, and in which groups of serious and profound conviction are not systematically faced with the stark alternatives of cultural loyalty or state loyalty, it seems unavoidable,” he said.

Earlier, in a BBC interview, he was more succinct. He said it was a “matter of fact” that Sharia law was already being practised in Britain. “It’s not as if we’re bringing in an alien and rival system; we already have in this country a number of situations in which the internal law of religious communities is recognised by the law of the land.

“There is a place for finding what would be a constructive accommodation with some aspects of Muslim law as we already do with some kinds of aspects of other religious law”.—Dawn/ The Guardian News Service