Jazmin Hermosillo/Feb. 08, 4:27pm/Religious Conflict

Top Anglican Seeks a Role for Islamic Law in Britain

I read in the The New York Times that the archbishop of Canterbury in London on Thursday called for Britain to adopt aspects of Islamic Shariah law along with the existing legal system. When he gave his speech about these changes that he wanted to happen there was a great uproar and opposition; among them were politicians, lawyers and even some Muslims themselves.
The archbishop, Rev. Rowan Williams, whom is the spiritual leader of the world’s Anglicans, said in his public speech that the introduction of Shariah in family law was “unavoidable”, but that such “constructive accommodation” should not deprive Muslims of their right to take their cases to the already existing court system. The archbishop also said that the Muslims could take their most defined issues to their own religious courts to the established practice among Orthodox Jews to prevent religious disputes to rabbinical courts.
The Shariah is drawn from the Koran and the sayings of the Prophet Muhammad. It prescribes religious and secular duties, along with punishments for their breach. Most of Shariah laws deal with issues like marriage, divorce and inheritance, and many Muslims in Britain have many years taken disputes in these areas to Shariah councils in neighborhood mosques.
The archbishop’s proposal if adopted would set a precedent in the West. The archbishop says that not only will it help the Muslims to have this law passed but it could be extended to create new legal rights for all faiths. He referred to the Catholic adoption agencies that have resisted accepting gay couples as adoptive parents.
Well once I read this I thought about all those countries that do have the Shariah laws already in affect and how you here of the bad way women are treated and how women are beaten with rocks because of cheating on your husband but yet these laws really don’t fall to harshly for men?!?!? Well supposedly, said the archbishop that by promoting these laws it will be better for ones faith and that it will be followed more rigorously, but I say that you follow your faith or religion has nothing to do with the laws because you believe in what you believe in no matter what is established.