Politicians from all major parties have criticised the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, for suggesting that elements of Islamic law could be recognised in Britain. Some senior Anglican clergy have defended his remarks, stating he was referring to decisions on marriage and property, not criminal matters or issues of belief.
The comments have prompted a debate on whether the reaction has been Islamophobic or whether Sharia law poses a genuine threat to British culture. One contributor argued that there can only be one law of the land, but Sharia courts could have similar rights to Jewish Beth Din courts, which rule on religious divorce without affecting civil law.
Others expressed concerns that Islamic arbitration would be unfair to women, who might fear violence or social exclusion if they opted for civil law. Some commenters insisted that those living in Britain must abide by British laws and standards, rejecting the idea of accommodating polygamy, which is illegal under UK bigamy laws.
A number of respondents criticised the Archbishop for inflaming tensions and generating disquiet about Muslim culture in the country. One person predicted that the public would eventually say 'enough', while another urged the Archbishop to focus on declining church attendance rather than dabbling in politics.
However, some defended Dr Williams, accusing the media coverage of being Islamophobic. One commenter highlighted a BBC video that showed a black man lashing a young person, arguing this reinforced negative stereotypes. They questioned why the Archbishop did not anticipate that his remarks would be misconstrued, given the existing prejudice.
