Britain has become a significant hub for sharia courts, with 85 Islamic councils operating across the country since the first one was established in 1982, according to Great Britain News, making it the "western capital" for such institutions. These councils, which have gained increasing influence, serve as informal bodies offering religious rulings, particularly in matters concerning marriage and divorce.
Sharia courts, typically made up of panels of male Islamic scholars, have become a focal point for religious legal matters. Sharia, defined by theologian Professor Mona Siddiqui as a form of jurisprudence based on Islamic scholars’ opinions dating back to the 7th to 13th centuries, is a key part of these councils' rulings.
In Britain, it is estimated that around 100,000 Islamic marriages have been conducted, with many of them not officially registered with civil authorities. This often leads to situations where individuals, particularly women, must turn to sharia councils for divorce rulings.
While many aspects of traditional sharia have been modified in other Muslim-majority countries, the original rulings are still largely observed, especially when it comes to marriage and divorce, the outlet reported.
The sharia councils have the religious authority to grant divorces to women if their husbands refuse. Men, on the other hand, can end marriages simply by repeating the word "divorce" three times. The normalization of polygamy has also found a foothold in modern Britain, with a mobile app allowing Muslim men to create Islamic wills.
This growing influence of sharia courts has led to concerns from groups like the National Secular Society. Stephen Evans, the society’s chief executive, warned that these parallel legal systems “undermine the principle of one law for all” and negatively affect women's and children's rights. He emphasized that sharia councils exist because Muslim women need them for religious divorces, whereas Muslim men can unilaterally end their marriages.
Some women have reported that religious texts are being used to control them, with certain men quoting hadiths to justify insisting wives must agree to sexual relations. One woman described her distress when an elder suggested she enter into a "pleasure marriage," which is considered religiously sanctioned.
One of the most well-known sharia courts in Britain was founded by Haitham al-Haddad, a controversial figure criticized for his views. Al-Haddad, who visited the Taliban after their recapture of Afghanistan, once stated in a 2009 lecture: “A man should not be questioned why he hit his wife because this is something between them. Leave them alone. They can sort out their matters among themselves.” When confronted by The Times, al-Haddad clarified that he was not encouraging unchallenged abuse but was emphasizing the importance of preserving marriages.
