Sharia Bodies Operating Even In Basement Of Shops In UK

UK Board of Sharia Councils chairman Dr Ahmad Al-Dubayan said to the Members of Parliament unregulated and unofficial Shara law bodies are operating everywhere in the United Kingdom and it is not possible to find out exactly how many such councils are operating in the country.

Ahmad is based in Regent’s Park Mosque in London. He said in some of the cases even such councils are operating in small shops, probably hidden in the basement.

Some seven years ago a report published by a think-tank estimated about 85 sharia bodies are operative in the UK.

Addressing to the members of the Commons Home Affairs Committee Dr Ahmad said the true extent of Sharia councils is not known.

Sharia body supporters said complete ban on the bodies would lead to backstreet panels springing up further and those often charges higher fees for a religious divorce.

Labour MP for Bradford West, Naz Shah, said for many Muslim women the Sharia councils are a valuable source of help.

Shah was forced into marriage when she was just 15-year-old. She warned during a meeting that ban of Sharia bodies would be like throwing the baby out with the bath water.

She also added many Muslim communities feel the ban on Sharia bodies had an air of Islamophobia.