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| Sharia law 'could have UK role' | Sharia law 'could have UK role' |
| (about 8 hours later) | |
| Principles of sharia law could play a role in some parts of the legal system, the Lord Chief Justice has said. | Principles of sharia law could play a role in some parts of the legal system, the Lord Chief Justice has said. |
| But there is no possibility of sharia courts sitting in the UK, Lord Phillips of Worth Matravers added. | But there is no possibility of sharia courts sitting in the UK, Lord Phillips of Worth Matravers added. |
| Lord Phillips, the most senior judge in England and Wales, said there was no reason sharia law's principles could not be used in mediation. | Lord Phillips, the most senior judge in England and Wales, said there was no reason sharia law's principles could not be used in mediation. |
| The Archbishop of Canterbury prompted controversy when he said use of certain aspects of the law "seems unavoidable". | |
| Sharia is a set of principles which govern the way many Muslims believe one should live one's life. | Sharia is a set of principles which govern the way many Muslims believe one should live one's life. |
| In a speech at the East London Muslim Centre in Whitechapel, Lord Phillips said that sharia suffered from "widespread misunderstanding". | In a speech at the East London Muslim Centre in Whitechapel, Lord Phillips said that sharia suffered from "widespread misunderstanding". |
| Alternative resolution | Alternative resolution |
| Lord Phillips said: "There is no reason why sharia principles, or any other religious code, should not be the basis for mediation or other forms of alternative dispute resolution. | Lord Phillips said: "There is no reason why sharia principles, or any other religious code, should not be the basis for mediation or other forms of alternative dispute resolution. |
| "It must be recognised, however, that any sanctions for a failure to comply with the agreed terms of mediation would be drawn from the laws of England and Wales." | "It must be recognised, however, that any sanctions for a failure to comply with the agreed terms of mediation would be drawn from the laws of England and Wales." |
| But severe physical punishments such as flogging, stoning and the cutting off of hands would not be acceptable, he said. | But severe physical punishments such as flogging, stoning and the cutting off of hands would not be acceptable, he said. |
| He added: "There can be no question of such courts sitting in this country, or such sanctions being applied here. | He added: "There can be no question of such courts sitting in this country, or such sanctions being applied here. |
| "So far as the law is concerned, those who live in this country are governed by English and Welsh law and subject to the jurisdiction of the English and Welsh courts." | "So far as the law is concerned, those who live in this country are governed by English and Welsh law and subject to the jurisdiction of the English and Welsh courts." |
| Williams 'misunderstood' | Williams 'misunderstood' |
| The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, had been misunderstood when it was reported in February that he said British Muslims could be governed by sharia law, the judge said. | The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, had been misunderstood when it was reported in February that he said British Muslims could be governed by sharia law, the judge said. |
| Dr Williams suggested that sharia could play a role in "aspects of marital law, the regulation of financial transactions and authorised structures of mediation and conflict resolution". | |
| Lord Phillips said: "It was not very radical to advocate embracing sharia law in the context of family disputes, for example, and our system already goes a long way towards accommodating the archbishop's suggestion. | Lord Phillips said: "It was not very radical to advocate embracing sharia law in the context of family disputes, for example, and our system already goes a long way towards accommodating the archbishop's suggestion. |
| "It is possible in this country for those who are entering into a contractual agreement to agree that the agreement shall be governed by a law other than English law." | "It is possible in this country for those who are entering into a contractual agreement to agree that the agreement shall be governed by a law other than English law." |