First Official Sharia Courts

In July The Times reported Lord Chief Justice, Lord Phillips of Worth Matravers telling an audience at the London Muslim Centre in Whitechapel “There is no question of such [Sharia] courts sitting in this country or such sanctions being applied here," and “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.” However, John Bolch of Family Lore posts about another article today in The Times reporting the government has quietly sanctioned the first official sharia courts, classified as arbitration tribunals under a clause in the Arbitration Act 1996. Rulings of arbitration tribunals are binding in law, provided that both parties in the dispute agree to give them the power to rule on their case. Five sharia courts have already been set up in England and two more are planned for Edinburgh and Glasgow.