Author: Hasan Suroor
Publication: The Hindu
Date: February 9, 2008
URL: http://www.hindu.com/2008/02/09/stories/2008020953911400.htm
[Note from Hindu Vivek Kendra: At the end
of the article it says that there is no public demand from the Muslim community
about the introduction of the Sharia. While technically it may be correct,
various Muslim organisations, some of whom may today speak against the Archbishop,
have in the past said what the Archbishop has said. Also, opinion polls have
also indicated that quite a significant number of Muslims in the UK do want
the Sharia. Also it would be interesting to hear from the Muslim groups who
are today criticising the Archbishop about their opinion of the application
of the Sharia to the Muslims in India.]
Williams known for 'unorthodox' musings
Muslim Council criticises remark
In a rare show of unity against attempts to
interfere with Britain's secular laws, Muslim groups on Friday joined Ministers,
MPs and civil rights groups to criticise Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams
for suggesting that elements of Sharia should be incorporated into British
law as a mark of religious and cultural "accommodation" with the
country's 1.6 million Muslims.
Dr. Williams, who is the most senior religious
figure in the Church of England and has often courted controversy for his
unorthodox "musings", made the startling suggestion in a lecture
triggering an angry reaction from across the political and religious divide,
including his own Church.
Downing Street was quick to slam him with
Prime Minister Gordon Brown's spokesman emphasising the primacy of British
laws which, he said, were based on shared British "values".
Home Secretary Jacqui Smith made clear that
there was only "one law in the country and it's the democratically determined
law. That's the law that I will uphold and that's the law that's at the heart
actually of the values that we share across all communities in this country,"
she said.
Muslim MPs and peers were equally outspoken
with even the Muslim Council of Britain, normally associated with conservative
opinion, rejecting the idea saying that the "vast majority" Muslims
did not want Sharia laws.
Conservative peer and shadow cohesion minister
Sayeeda Warsi said: "Dr. Williams seems to be suggesting that there should
be two systems of law, running alongside each other, almost parallel, and
for people to be offered the choice of opting into one or the other. That
is unacceptable."
Labour MP Khalid Mahmood called the Archbishop's
suggestion "misguided" pointing out that Muslims did not want to
be "singled out" for special treatment.
Trevor Phillips, Chairman of the Equality
and Human Rights Commission, expressed concern that such remarks would fuel
"anti- Muslim" sentiment and "dismay everyone working towards
a more integrated society."
Dr. Williams said he believed that adoption
of some aspects of Sharia (such as in matters of divorce and inheritance)
in British laws was "unavoidable". Britain, he argued, must "face
up to the fact" that some citizens did not relate to the country's secular
legal system.
There has been no public demand from the Muslim
community for introduction of Sharia laws.
