Archbishop's Sharia comments draw heavy criticism
by Maria Mackay
Posted: Friday, February 8, 2008, 9:34 (GMT)
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, faced heavy criticism after stating that the introduction of some aspects of Sharia law in Britain was "unavoidable".
Speaking to the BBC on Thursday, the Archbishop called for a "constructive accommodation" for Muslims in areas relating to marriage, divorce, custom and inheritance, pointing to the fact that other religious communities already enjoy the accommodation of their laws in Britain.
Sharia is the body of Islamic religious law based on the teachings of the Koran and the Prophet Mohammad, and which has developed over centuries to incorporate the rulings of Islamic scholars.
Asked if the adoption of Sharia was necessary for community cohesion, Dr Williams said: "It seems unavoidable.
"Certain conditions of Sharia are already recognised in our society and under our law, so it is not as if we are bringing in an alien and rival system."
Prime Minister Gordon Brown's office has distanced itself from the Archbishop's comments, however. Mr Brown's spokesman stressed that the Prime Minister "believes that British laws should be based on British values", according to the BBC.
Home Office Minister Tony McNulty said: "To ask us to fundamentally change the rule of law and to adopt Sharia law, I think, is fundamentally wrong."
Culture Secretary Andy Burnham joined the chorus of condemnation, saying, "You cannot run two systems of law alongside each other. That would be a recipe for chaos."
Criticism also came in from other parties. The Conservative Community Cohesion Minister Baroness Warsi told the BBC, "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."
Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg agreed that Britain should not set up different laws for different people.
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The comments below are readers' personal opinions and are in no way intended to reflect the editorial opinion of Christian Today.
Added: Saturday, February 9, 2008, 13:26 (GMT)
Dr.Williams is certainly sincere with his magnanimous gesture towards Muslims but he is sincerely wrong. It is unfathomable that he should wish to complement the legal system with alien legislation. This is treachery,no less.
CJ Savvy, Petaling Jaya,Malaysia
Added: Friday, February 8, 2008, 21:19 (GMT)
The Archbishop is a muddled liberal christian who no longer speaks for Christians in the UK; in fact he never really has. To make such a statement when the dangers to muslim women are already clear where sharia law is practised. What will he be advocating next? One hundred lashes for muslim women who have been raped, honour killings of muslim women who dare to make their own choices and find their own partner or their own religion or none?
The dangers of encouraging a society within a society are infinite. Once the fire is started, there will be no putting it out!
It seems our Christian heritage is not just under attack from aggressive secular liberals and atheists but also from within the Christian Church from 'trendy liberal christians'. The Archbishop should go now, preferably to a muslim country that lives under sharia law. There are plenty to choose from in the middle east. Perhaps he should try living in such a country for a few years before making such ridiculous trendy liberal statements!
But on the other hand.... well done to Rowan Williams your comments have done more to wake up the slumbering Christian Church in the UK to the dangers of aggressive Islam than any other previous Archbishop or so any other so called Christian leader in the UK the last century.
Wake up sleeper our Christian heritage is under attack like no other time before! Not just from Islam but also aggressive secular liberals and the new in vouge atheist!
All you need to do to let our Christian heritage and values be destroyed..... is do nothing!
'The only thing for the triumph of evil is for good people to do nothing'
edmund burke
Simon, Aylesbury UK
Added: Friday, February 8, 2008, 19:22 (GMT)
Maybe we should read the archbishop's full comments to make sure we don't misunderstand or misinterpret what he said:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/bsp/hi/pdfs/07_02_08_islam.pdf
James, London, UK
Added: Friday, February 8, 2008, 18:19 (GMT)
i think the archbishop has lost the whole essence of the christian faith and its values. sharia law is based on koranic teachings while british laws are based on biblical teachings.therefore sharia law and british laws are not compatible and one cannot be incorporated into the other. those who want sharia laws should go and live in countries where sharia law is being practised.
Victoria Johnson, Chelmsford, UK
Added: Friday, February 8, 2008, 15:07 (GMT)
When oh when are we going to wake up and smell the coffee? There is every way under the sun to avoid adopting Sharia law in this country. For Rowan Williams to say that it is unavoidable' is absolute nonsense and most unworthy of one who holds such a rank in the Church of England.
It is as unavoidable as opening the door of your home to a burglar, or a gunman: you shut the door in their face.
This is the thin end of the wedge, give them an inch and they will take a mile.
We are so so slow in this country to learn the lessons of the past. This is but the next step on the way to the complete Islamisation of England, and, as Martin Luther said at the doors of Wittenberg 'here I stand, may God help me I can do nought else."
Indeed may God have mercy upon this nation!
David , Birmingham U.K.
Added: Friday, February 8, 2008, 13:40 (GMT)
It's about time CoE members chose the Bishops on their standing with God instead of the Govenment choosing them on who suits their politics at the time of selection.
Also. Why is that we the British public always have to change our way of life to acommodate others (minorities) for reasons of community cohesion and not them to change to suit an already established system.
KW, Exeter
Added: Friday, February 8, 2008, 11:01 (GMT)
I think Rowan Williams is an extremely intelligent man but i think his priority should be proclaiming the name of Jesus Christ to the world, not bothering about whether Muslims should have their own law or not.
Jenny Mayo, Bristol
