Anyone Watch Panorama Tonight?

[ToraToraTora]

Surely there is no legal weight for the Sharia courts so how is some cleric able to grant "divorces" etc? This is UK! Should the authorities stop this silly religious posturing?

[Booldawg]

'jewish and Muslim customs are greatly similar. Beth Din has not undermined the law of the land, and Sharia won't either.'

Apart from advising victims of domestic abuse not to report it to the police.

[youngmafbog]

All the usual suspects always pull out the Jewish argument, but do the Jews treat their women like the Muslims?

If religions want to have agreements between themselves fine, it is a free country. BUT, they must not be able to undermine the law of the land in any respect.

[Gromit]

// Gromit - If these courts were to abide by the rules this country has framed for them then there probably wouldn't be a problem. //

I agree with you. They should work within existing laws. Marrying children at 12 is illegal in this country, so they can and should be prosecuted. But I am unconvinced there is a problem. The Iman in your link said he would marry a 12 year old, but there is no evidence that this actually happened or happens.

If both parties take a dispute to a muslim or jewish leader for arbitration, and as long as nothing illegal under British law is decided, then good for them.

[emmie]

i did, and it wasn't especially eye opening. We should have UK law, end of the story.

[New Judge]

Could not agree more, em.

“If English courts are not connected to religion, why do witnesses swear to God when they give evidence, and the motto on the crest in the court rooms is Dieu Et Mon Droit. “

They do not have to “swear to God”, Jayne. There are a number of alternative oaths acceptable in court (admittedly religous) but they can take a non-religious “affirmation” if they wish. It's all about providing something that the witness can accept.

"Dieu et mon Droit" is the motto of the British Monarch in England. It refers to the divine right of the Monarch to govern. The Royal Coat of Arms is displayed in courts to indicate that the court is representative of the Crown from which it draws its authority. So really it is the Crown’s connection with God rather than that of the Court.