This shouldn’t even be controversial. But it is likely it won’t pass.
“Bid to ban Muslims from replacing UK law with Sharia courts to be put before MPs TODAY,” by David Maddox, Express, March 11, 2016:
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.
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.
Baroness Cox added: “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.”
The legislation comes before MPs in a week where International Women’s Day has been marked.
There are serious concerns over the way Sharia Courts are making rulings on marriage law and divorce with Muslims but not having any legal status.
Despite having no legal status they are also providing families with official marriage and divorce certificates.
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.”…