Britain has emerged as the “western capital” for sharia courts, with 85 Islamic councils now operating across the country since the first was established in 1982.
These religious bodies have become increasingly influential, drawing Muslims from across Europe and North America who seek religious rulings on marriage and family matters.
The councils, typically consisting of panels of Islamic scholars who are almost always male, serve as informal bodies issuing religious rulings particularly focused on marriages and divorces.
Sharia was defined in an official review by theologian Professor Mona Siddiqui as jurisprudence based on Islamic scholars’ opinions from the time of Mohammed in the 7th century until the 13th century.
85 Islamic councils now operate across the country
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An estimated 100,000 Islamic marriages have been conducted in Britain, with many not officially registered with civil authorities.
These marriages often require religious rulings for dissolution, particularly affecting women who must seek approval from sharia councils for divorce.
Many aspects of traditional sharia have been modified in most Muslim countries, but classical rulings are frequently still observed in marriage and divorce matters.
The councils have religious authority to end marriages at a wife’s request if her husband is unwilling to grant a divorce, though this process differs significantly from civil proceedings.
Men seeking Islamic divorces can end their marriages simply by saying “divorce” three times, highlighting a stark contrast in gender-based religious procedures.
The normalisation of polygamy is evident through modern technology, with an app allowing Muslim men in England and Wales to create Islamic wills.
The app features a drop-down menu enabling men to specify between one and four wives.
This same app demonstrates further gender disparities, allocating daughters half the inheritance amount given to sons.
Men seeking Islamic divorces can end their marriages simply by saying “divorce” three times
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The National Secular Society has raised significant concerns about these parallel legal systems in Britain.
Stephen Evans, the society’s chief executive, warned that these councils “undermine the principle of one law for all” and negatively impact women’s and children’s rights.
“It should be remembered that sharia councils only exist because Muslim women need them to obtain a religious divorce. Muslim men do not need them because they can unilaterally divorce their wife,” Evans stated.
Women have reported instances of religious texts being used to control them, with some men quoting hadiths to insist wives must agree to sexual relations.
One woman described her distress when an elder suggested she enter a religiously sanctioned “pleasure marriage.”
One of Britain’s most prominent sharia courts was founded by Haitham al-Haddad, who has faced criticism for his controversial views.
Al-Haddad was among British scholars who visited the Taliban after they recaptured Afghanistan.
In online lectures about failing marriages in 2009, he stated: “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 questioned by The Times, al-Haddad said he was not teaching that men should avoid questioning about smacking wives, but explaining the importance of preserving marriages.
Previous attempts at regulation have faced resistance. Theresa May’s government commissioned an independent review but refused to implement a regulator, fearing it would legitimise councils as alternatives to British law.
The Muslim Women’s Network charity is taking action to improve standards at Britain’s sharia councils after previous political efforts stalled.
The charity plans to propose a code of conduct in 2025, based on research by Rajnaara Akhtar, an associate professor at the University of Warwick.
Al-Haddad was among British scholars who visited the Taliban after they recaptured Afghanistan
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Women will be guided towards councils that adopt these new standards.
Akhtar outlined that organisations would need to respect the Equality Act and maintain transparency about decision-making processes.
The proposed standards will require councils to be clear about their costs, timeframes, and principles.
“Obviously it would be up to those bodies to sign up to it, it would be up to them to have a discussion about it,” Akhtar explained.
The Government maintains a clear position on the role of sharia law in Britain.
“Sharia law does not form any part of the law in England and Wales,” a Government spokesman stated.
The spokesman emphasised the importance of legally recognised marriages, noting these provide essential “protections, security and support” for couples in the United Kingdom.
The Government’s manifesto has outlined plans to strengthen rights for cohabiting couples who are not married.
Baroness Cox, a cross-bench peer, has previously attempted to address these issues through a private members’ bill aimed at protecting women from religiously sanctioned discrimination.
She described sharia councils as a “rapidly developing alternative quasi-legal system.”
