Southall Black Sisters, a women’s rights group, wrote: “Sharia councils and the Mat hold themselves out to be ‘courts of law’ but they are in fact highly arbitrary decision making forums that use dominant, patriarchal and authoritarian interpretations of Muslim codes which are passed off as ‘sharia’ laws.”
Is there an interpretation of Sharia that is not patriarchal and authoritarian? Really? Everywhere Sharia has ever been implemented, anywhere in the world at any time in the history of Islam, it has been patriarchal and authoritarian. Southall Black Sisters may have in mind some slick Western professor’s version of Sharia, but such versions are fantasy.
There is no surprise in a British Sharia court protecting wife beaters: “Men have authority over women because Allah has made the one superior to the other, and because they spend their wealth to maintain them. Good women are obedient. They guard their unseen parts because Allah has guarded them. As for those from whom you fear disobedience, admonish them and send them to beds apart and beat them.” — Qur’an 4:34
“British sharia court ‘protects wife-beating suspects by sabotaging criminal proceedings against them’ women’s rights group claims,” by Shari Miller, Mailonline, October 30, 2016 (thanks to The Religion of Peace):
A top sharia court has been accused of using its position to ‘sabotage’ criminal charges brought against men accused of domestic violence.
The Muslim Arbitration Tribunal (Mat), based in Nuneaton, Warwickshire, was set up in 2007 to help resolve civil and family disputes in accordance with Islamic law.
According to the Mat website, the body cannot deal with criminal offences, but ‘where there are criminal charges such as assault within the context of domestic violence, the parties can ask Mat to assist in reaching reconciliation.
‘The terms of such a reconciliation can then be passed on to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) through the local Police Domestic Violence Liaison Officers with a view to reconsidering the criminal charges.’
But Southall Black Sisters, a women’s rights group, argues that Mat is effectively ‘sabotaging criminal proceedings’ against men accused of domestic violence by asking the CPS to ‘reconsider’ any charges….
In a statement, the group wrote: ‘The Mat, for example, actively involves itself in criminal proceedings on domestic violence, despite stating that it is unable to deal with criminal offences.
‘It uses its position of power to persuade the CPS to drop charges and to encourage women to reconcile with abusive partners without reference to court orders they may already have or to risk assessments and safety planning.’
It added: ‘Sharia councils and the Mat hold themselves out to be ‘courts of law’ but they are in fact highly arbitrary decision making forums that use dominant, patriarchal and authoritarian interpretations of Muslim codes which are passed off as ‘sharia’ laws.’…

old white guy says
Brits have lost their tiny minds and their country. what a bunch of fools they are for allowing this to happen in their country.
Michael Copeland says
Indeed. This undermines the rule of law and the State.
It is Stage One of Balkanisation.
The politicians have allowed this to happen.
Marty says
As a Brit I agree 100%.
the fact is, we are no longer an independent nation.
We are a North Eastern fringe of the Fourth Reich (ie the EU), which
is, inter alia, driving out Jews by importing millions of mohammedans.
The ideas of Gramsci on how to destroy a civilisation over a few decades
are bearing bitter fruit after 50 years of corruption.
I’m proud of my British ancestors, & I feel ashamed of the forces
that are steadily being allowed to eat away at our very existence,
Egged on by Quislings who thing they’re liberals.
Anne Smith says
The ordinary Brits have not allowed this to happen, the Labour Government did. Most people knew nothing about it, being too busy trying to earn a living and look after their own families to take an awful lot of notice about what the Government was up to.
The Labour Government of Blair and Brown courted and won the block Muslim vote. This has corrupted British politics to a startling degree.
Cameron – a lazy swine – took no interest in any of this.
I would not bet on Theresa May sorting any of this out – she has already earned the nickname of Sharia May.
Kay says
This is what happens. We are so busy making a living and paying taxes and we expected the government believe in its own values and to look out for its own citizens. What betrayal!
concerned canadian says
look at that doucher sitting behind a desk like hes wise.
With a lap top to boot hahaha.
Michael Copeland says
Beware the term “implement the law”.
It sounds so reasonable and harmless, but acts to impart a bogus legitimacy to unconstitutional rules.
English law, after being duly passed by Parliament, is, indeed, “implemented”.
Foreign Sharia law does not undergo anything as tiresome as an Act of Parliament. It is simply applied by force, as in “Sharia patrols”, the beating up of an American tourist, and denying UK justice to battered wives.
When used of Sharia law the word “implement” means “impose by force”
Angemon says
“Position of power” and “patriarchy” – these words would usual whip “feminists” and leftards (but I repeat myself) into a noisy frenzy. But the Southall Black Sister started as a group fighting against racism, so Asian men are involved, and I have yet to see any criticism of any minority ethnic group that leftards don’t consider racism. “Feminism” vs racism, racism wins – racist takes precedence to “feminism” in the leftist stack.
Kay says
It’s astounding how the West has too often abandoned its own values of freedom and equality.
Sounds like this women’s rights group is bravely standing against injustice.
Let’s hope they receive the support needed to overcome the travesty of “justice” that sharia or sharia-like courts impose, including the twisted understanding of “reconciliation.”
Jay Boo says
Muslims are — “Special”
CAGE of thorns under the Sharia rose.
Muslim men promote sharia as a (Barricade) — against Western decadence,
For Muslim women Sharia is nothing but a — (Cage).
Paul Clark says
Brits must be deranged to allow a bunch of ignorant Islamist to judge their citizens. Whenever there has ever been any justice in any Islamist court? Islam only knows revenge and hate. Justice is foreign.
Paul Clark says
Anne, the similarities are the same in America. We have been betrayed by the democrat party and Obama. Hillary will enhance this betrayal. We will soon see Sharia courts in America. On the whole we are a nation of apathetic, secular, cowards that are too busy working for government and personal greed . We are like a colony of ants too busy to know the Anteater is at the entrance. Some us don’t want to know and they will vote for Hillary.