This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk_politics/7233335.stm
The article has changed 25 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Archbishop sparks Sharia law row | Archbishop sparks Sharia law row |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Leading politicians have distanced themselves from the Archbishop of Canterbury's belief that some Sharia law in the UK seems "unavoidable". | Leading politicians have distanced themselves from the Archbishop of Canterbury's belief that some Sharia law in the UK seems "unavoidable". |
| Gordon Brown's spokesman said the prime minister "believes that British laws should be based on British values". | Gordon Brown's spokesman said the prime minister "believes that British laws should be based on British values". |
| The Tories called the Archbishop's remarks "unhelpful" and the Lib Dems said all must abide by the rule of law. | The Tories called the Archbishop's remarks "unhelpful" and the Lib Dems said all must abide by the rule of law. |
| Dr Rowan Williams said the UK had to "face up to the fact" some citizens do not relate to the British legal system. | Dr Rowan Williams said the UK had to "face up to the fact" some citizens do not relate to the British legal system. |
| He said adopting parts of Islamic Sharia law could help social cohesion. | 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. | For example, Muslims could choose to have marital disputes or financial matters dealt with in a Sharia court. |
| 'Changes' | 'Changes' |
| But the prime minister's official spokesman said Sharia law could never be used as a justification for committing a breach of English law, nor could the principle of Sharia law be applied in a civil case. | But the prime minister's official spokesman said Sharia law could never be used as a justification for committing a breach of English law, nor could the principle of Sharia law be applied in a civil case. |
| He added that Mr Brown had a good relationship with the archbishop, who was perfectly entitled to express his views. | He added that Mr Brown had a good relationship with the archbishop, who was perfectly entitled to express his views. |
| The spokesman also said: "There are instances where government has made changes for example on stamp duty but the general position is that Sharia cannot be used as justification for committing breaches of English law nor can its principles be used in civil courts." | The spokesman also said: "There are instances where government has made changes for example on stamp duty but the general position is that Sharia cannot be used as justification for committing breaches of English law nor can its principles be used in civil courts." |
| All British citizens must be subject to British laws developed through Parliament and the courts Baroness WarsiConservatives Religious courts in the UK | All British citizens must be subject to British laws developed through Parliament and the courts Baroness WarsiConservatives Religious courts in the UK |
| For the Conservatives, shadow community cohesion minister Baroness Warsi said: "The Archbishop's comments are unhelpful and may add to the confusion that already exists in our communities. | For the Conservatives, shadow community cohesion minister Baroness Warsi said: "The Archbishop's comments are unhelpful and may add to the confusion that already exists in our communities. |
| "Of course the important principle is one of equality and we must ensure that people of all backgrounds and religions are treated equally before the law. Freedom under the law allows respect for some religious practices. | "Of course the important principle is one of equality and we must ensure that people of all backgrounds and religions are treated equally before the law. Freedom under the law allows respect for some religious practices. |
| "But let's be absolutely clear. All British citizens must be subject to British laws developed through Parliament and the courts." | "But let's be absolutely clear. All British citizens must be subject to British laws developed through Parliament and the courts." |
| Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg said: "Whilst having an enormous amount of respect for Rowan Williams, I cannot agree with his conclusions on this issue. | Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg said: "Whilst having an enormous amount of respect for Rowan Williams, I cannot agree with his conclusions on this issue. |
| "Equality before the law is part of the glue that binds our society together. We cannot have a situation where there is one law for one person and different laws for another. | "Equality before the law is part of the glue that binds our society together. We cannot have a situation where there is one law for one person and different laws for another. |
| "There is a huge difference between respecting peoples' right to follow their own beliefs and allowing them to excuse themselves from the rule of law." | "There is a huge difference between respecting peoples' right to follow their own beliefs and allowing them to excuse themselves from the rule of law." |
| 'Sensational' | 'Sensational' |
| Dr Williams said Muslims should not have to choose between "the stark alternatives of cultural loyalty or state loyalty". | Dr Williams said Muslims should not have to choose between "the stark alternatives of cultural loyalty or state loyalty". |
| In an interview with BBC correspondent Christopher Landau, Dr Williams argued this relied on Sharia law being better understood. At the moment, he said "sensational reporting of opinion polls" clouded the issue. | |
| He stressed that "nobody in their right mind would want to see in this country the kind of inhumanity that's sometimes been associated with the practice of the law in some Islamic states; the extreme punishments, the attitudes to women as well". | |
| But Dr Williams said an approach to law which simply said "there's one law for everybody and that's all there is to be said, and anything else that commands your loyalty or allegiance is completely irrelevant in the processes of the courts - I think that's a bit of a danger". | But Dr Williams said an approach to law which simply said "there's one law for everybody and that's all there is to be said, and anything else that commands your loyalty or allegiance is completely irrelevant in the processes of the courts - I think that's a bit of a danger". |
| HAVE YOUR SAYThere is, and should only be, one law which covers all people and to suggest it can be otherwise is to seriously damage our rightsPatricia London, UKSend us your comments | HAVE YOUR SAYThere is, and should only be, one law which covers all people and to suggest it can be otherwise is to seriously damage our rightsPatricia London, UKSend us your comments |
| "There's a place for finding what would be a constructive accommodation with some aspects of Muslim law, as we already do with some other aspects of religious law." | "There's a place for finding what would be a constructive accommodation with some aspects of Muslim law, as we already do with some other aspects of religious law." |
| Dr Williams added: "What we don't want either, is I think, a stand-off, where the law squares up to people's religious consciences." | |
| "We don't either want a situation where, because there's no way of legally monitoring what communities do... people do what they like in private in such a way that that becomes another way of intensifying oppression inside a community." | "We don't either want a situation where, because there's no way of legally monitoring what communities do... people do what they like in private in such a way that that becomes another way of intensifying oppression inside a community." |
| Multiculturalism 'divisive' | Multiculturalism 'divisive' |
| Under English law, people may devise their own way to settle a dispute in front of an agreed third party as long as both sides agree to the process. | Under English law, people may devise their own way to settle a dispute in front of an agreed third party as long as both sides agree to the process. |
| Muslim Sharia courts and the Jewish Beth Din which already exist in the UK come into this category. | Muslim Sharia courts and the Jewish Beth Din which already exist in the UK come into this category. |
| Mark Pritchard, Tory MP for the Wrekin, in Shropshire, said the Archbishop's comments were "naive and shocking" and he accused him of "pseudo-theological appeasement". | |
| He said: "The Archbishop should be standing up for our Judeo-Christian principles that underpin British criminal law that have been hard fought for. | |
| "He should be concentrating on winning souls into the Church of England rather than getting involved in politics." | |
| Last month, one of Dr Williams' colleagues, the Bishop of Rochester, said that non-Muslims may find it hard to live or work in some areas of the UK. | |
| The Right Reverend Dr Michael Nazir-Ali said there was "hostility" in some areas and described the government's multicultural policies as divisive. | The Right Reverend Dr Michael Nazir-Ali said there was "hostility" in some areas and described the government's multicultural policies as divisive. |
| He said there had been a worldwide resurgence of Islamic extremism, leading to young people growing up alienated from the country they lived in. | He said there had been a worldwide resurgence of Islamic extremism, leading to young people growing up alienated from the country they lived in. |
| He has since received death threats and has been placed under police protection. | He has since received death threats and has been placed under police protection. |
| Do you have any experience of how Sharia Law is used within the community where you live? Send us your experience by filling out the form below. | Do you have any experience of how Sharia Law is used within the community where you live? Send us your experience by filling out the form below. |