Archbishop hits back over Islamic law claims
Updated on 08 February 2008
The Archbishop of Canterbury has hit back over criticism of his comments on sharia law, amid growing calls for his resignation.
Dr Rowan Williams made no proposals for sharia, and "certainly did not call for its introduction as some kind of parallel jurisdiction to the civil law", a statement on his website said.
He was "exploring ways in which reasonable accommodation might be made within existing arrangements for religious conscience" and his core aim was "to tease out some of the broader issues around the rights of religious groups within a secular state".
However, at least two Synod members have already called for the Archbishop to go and he has faced criticism from leading bishops, secular groups and Government figures.
Colonel Edward Armitstead, a Synod member from the diocese of Bath and Wells said: "I don't think he is the man for the job. One wants to be charitable, but I sense that he would be far happier in a university where he can kick around these sorts of ideas."
The Archbishop was said to be overwhelmed by the hostility of the response to his comments, but some have leapt to his defence.
The Bishop of Hulme, the Rt Rev Stephen Lowe, said he was appalled at the "knee-jerk" reaction to a serious piece of academic work.
He added: "He is undoubtedly one of the finest minds of this nation. The way he has been ridiculed, lampooned and treated by some people and indeed some of the media within this process, is quite disgraceful."
The Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) said it was grateful for the "thoughtful intervention" of the Archbishop on the discussion of the place of Islam and Muslims in Britain today.
A spokesman for Prime Minister Gordon Brown said: "Our general position is that sharia law cannot be used as a justification for committing breaches of English law, nor should the principles of sharia law be included in a civil court for resolving contractual disputes."
He added: "If there are specific instances like stamp duty, where changes can be made in a way that's consistent with British law and British values, in a way to accommodate the values of fundamental Muslims, that is something the Government would look at.
"In general terms, if there are specific instances that can be looked at on a case-by-case basis, that is something we can look at.
"But the Prime Minister believes British law should apply in this country, based on British values," he said.
Dr Williams said other religions enjoyed such tolerance of their own laws, but stressed that it could never be allowed to take precedence over an individual's rights as a citizen.
He said it would also require a change in perception of what sharia involved beyond the "inhumanity" of extreme punishments and attitudes to women seen in some Islamic states.
Dr Williams said Orthodox Jewish courts already operated in the UK, and anti-abortion views of Catholics and other Christians were "accommodated within the law".
A spokesman for the Ministry of Justice said: "Provided an activity prescribed by sharia law does not contravene the law of England and Wales, there is nothing in English law that prevents people abiding by sharia law if they wish to do so."
But the spokesman added sharia law "has no jurisdiction in England and Wales. There is no intention to change this."
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