Sharia Law - Does it have a place in Democratic Countries?

OK. I think most people agree that. Even harsh critics of it believe that it can serve a useful function and I'm tending towards that position. and are fully able to understand and agree without family, cultural or religious pressures It is not at all clear what UK law grants. The councils opperate outside UK law - they a private hearings and have no validity in civil law. Yet many courts tell their applicants that their judgement is final and binding. They are not. They often attempt to rule in criminal cases which they may not.Some MATs operate within the laws of arbitration but even then the Family court can overrule any decision made there and any decisions made that break UK civil law in other ways can not stand. But virtually no arbitration decisions are taken to civil law. The evidence is that family and community pressure prevents this.There is concern that some of these courts go beyond their powers and that many women who are forced to use them are pressured into accepting decisions which are discriminatory and against their interests.My position at the moment is that the whole system needs oversight and reform - it's not transparent and records are not kept. It's simply not compatible with any form of progressive liberal democratic process that values equality and puts the wellbeing of the child in family law at the top of the pile for justice.But if it could be made transparent with regulation and reformed to come into line with existing legal processes it could serve a useful function.

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It is not at all clear what UK law grants. The councils opperate outside UK law - they a private hearings and have no validity in civil law. Yet many courts tell their applicants that their judgement is final and binding. They are not. They often attempt to rule in criminal cases which they may not.

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It would be a lot clearer to you if you read your own sources. Sharia courts can act as arbitrators and mediators. Some are officially accredited arbitrators, and their judgements can be binding. Everything else you mention is outside the law and potentially illegal - even criminal if they attempt to enforce any form of corporal punishment.As I said, the primary problems are social and must be dealt with by social services - including charities.

Which is exactly what I said. The facts of how these things are supposed to work is not in doubt, what IS in doubt is how they actually DO work. As is described in the papers. Read the last one. This can't be dealt with only by social services and charities, that has failed, it needs proper judicial oversight.

I don't think that there is any doubt about the realities.But oversight can only go so far. The courts don't get involved in civil cases unless someone complains. Yes, there can be monitoring of any registered Sharia court, but tYour can bet that the worst problems occur elsewhere. Informing people of their legal rights, offering support, protection and refuge is going to be essential.But it is hardly a problem restricted to Islam or the UK. You ought to read about what Warren Jeffs got away with as the leader of a breakaway Mormon sect. Fortunately he went too far and he's in jail for child sexual assault. Warren Jeffs