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Dr Rowan
Williams
·
On February
8, 2008
Archbishop
of
Canterbury
Dr Rowan
Williams
attracted
widespread
criticism
after
appearing to
back the
adoption of
some aspects
of Sharia
law in the
UK.
·
Dr Rowan
Williams
said the UK
had to "face
up to the
fact" some
citizens did
not relate
to the
British
legal
system.
·
Culture
Secretary
Andy Burnham
said such
moves would
create
"social
chaos."
·
The Bishop
of Hulme,
the Rt Rev
Stephen
Lowe,
criticised
the
"disgraceful"
way in which
the
archbishop
had been
"ridiculed"
and
"lampooned"
by some.
·
Islamic
Sharia law
is a legal
and social
code
designed to
help Muslims
live their
daily lives,
but it has
proved
controversial
in the West
for the
extreme
nature of
some of its
punishments.
·
Dr Rowan
Williams
told BBC
Radio 4 that
he believed
the adoption
of some
Sharia law
in the UK
seemed
"unavoidable".
·
He said
adopting
parts of
Islamic
Sharia law
could help
social
cohesion.
·
For example,
Muslims
could choose
to have
marital
disputes or
financial
matters
dealt with
in a Sharia
court
.
SHARIA LAW
·
Sharia law
is Islam's
legal system
·
It is
derived from
the Koran
and the life
of the
prophet
Mohammed
·
Sharia
rulings help
Muslims
understand
how they
should lead
their lives
·
A formal
legal ruling
is called a
fatwa
·
In the West,
Sharia
courts deal
mainly with
family and
business
issues
·
English law
recognises
religious
courts as a
means of
arbitration
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