Sharia in Scotland

John Fotheringham of Fyfe Ireland LLP, Edinburgh and Glasgow has written a well balanced and informative article about Sharia law and it's recognition in this month's edition of the Law Society Scotland's Journal.

Scotland does not have large Muslim populations in the same way England has, so there has been no serious debate about the recognition of Sharia law in Scottish courts. Whilst Sharia councils have been set up in England to resolve civil disputes in Muslim communities they have no judicial role and John Fotheringham makes the point that they can only ever be courts of voluntary jurisdiction. It all makes sense.