Tags: Sharia
NSS welcomes inclusion of religious courts in domestic abuse guidance
Posted: Tue, 24 May 2022
The NSS has welcomed the inclusion of religious courts in updated guidance for prosecutors working on domestic abuse cases. Read More »
University revokes sultan of Brunei’s degree after NSS request
Posted: Wed, 24 Apr 2019
The NSS has welcomed a university's revocation of a degree from the sultan of Brunei after his country introduced draconian Islamic laws. Read More »
Strip sultan of Brunei of honours, NSS urges British institutions
Posted: Mon, 08 Apr 2019
The NSS has urged British institutions to strip the sultan of Brunei of honours over his kingdom's use of draconian new punishments. Read More »
Brunei introduces death for gay sex and adultery under sharia law
Posted: Thu, 28 Mar 2019
Brunei will impose death by stoning to punish gay sex and adultery as it implements a draconian form of Islamic law from next week. Read More »
Sharia ‘law’ should not trump domestic law, ECHR rules
Posted: Wed, 19 Dec 2018
A Greek court was wrong to prioritise sharia 'law' provisions over those of the country's domestic legal code, the ECHR has ruled. Read More »
NSS backs call for review of role of sharia ‘courts’ in divorce
Posted: Tue, 14 Aug 2018
The NSS has backed calls for the government to withdraw divorce guidance which encourages women to turn to religious 'courts'. Read More »
High Court rules Muslim ‘marriage’ void rather than non-marriage
Posted: Tue, 07 Aug 2018
A woman who had a Muslim 'marriage' ceremony but not a civil one is entitled to a decree of nullity which rules her marriage void. Read More »
NSS welcomes Home Office decision not to regulate sharia ‘courts’
Posted: Thu, 01 Feb 2018
The NSS has welcomed the Home Office's rejection of proposals to regulate sharia 'courts', which were made in an official review today. Read More »
Malaysian state votes to allow public caning for breaching sharia code
Posted: Thu, 13 Jul 2017
Legislators in Malaysia's northeastern state of Kelantan have voted to allow the public caning of those who break strict Islamic laws. Read More »
High Court rules against sharia-only divorce claim
Posted: Thu, 23 Feb 2017
The Family Division of the High Court has ruled against a man who claimed his marriage could only be dissolved under sharia, and that his wife must travel to Pakistan for a divorce. Read More »
Suffragettes would “turn in their graves” at the suffering of women under sharia, says peer
Posted: Mon, 30 Jan 2017
Baroness Cox has launched a fresh attempt to tackle sharia councils operating in the UK and protect women's rights. Read More »
Over 40% of UK Muslims support “aspects” of sharia law
Posted: Mon, 05 Dec 2016
Policy Exchange survey, described as the largest study of Muslim opinion in the UK ever undertaken, has found widespread belief in conspiracy theories and significant support for sharia law. Read More »
Malaysian PM to ‘empower’ sharia courts
Posted: Wed, 30 Nov 2016
Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak has announced plans to strengthen the power of Islamic law in the country, in a bid to shore up support from Muslim voters. Read More »
Britain has “turned a blind eye” to abuse of women by sharia ‘courts’
Posted: Wed, 23 Nov 2016
Testimony from Muslim women has been published by the Home Affairs Committee as part of their investigation into sharia, while activists have warned that its approach so far has favoured those who support sharia councils. Read More »
India debates replacing religious laws with one secular law for all
Posted: Thu, 27 Oct 2016
The author Taslima Nasreen, an honorary associate of the National Secular Society, has called on India to embrace a new Uniform Civil Code which would abolish religious personal laws for minority groups. Read More »
Sharia divorce better than murdering unwanted wives, says Indian Muslim Law Board
Posted: Fri, 09 Sep 2016
A group campaigning for gender equality in India has called on the country's Supreme Court to end Muslim Personal Law to protect women from "fundamentalists" operating sharia courts. Read More »
Government sharia investigation ‘more suited to theology debate than protecting women’s rights’
Posted: Tue, 05 Jul 2016
Campaign groups and human rights activists have signed an open letter to Theresa May warning that the Home Secretary's sharia review will "do nothing" to address sharia councils' discrimination against women. Read More »
Sharia inquiry launched by Home Affairs Committee
Posted: Wed, 29 Jun 2016
The Home Affairs Committee has announced the launch of its own inquiry into Sharia councils in the UK, following the start of a Government review back in May. Read More »
Theresa May launches review of Sharia law in England and Wales
Posted: Thu, 26 May 2016
The Government has announced the launch of its long-awaited independent review into Sharia law in England and Wales, to be chaired by Professor Mona Siddiqui. Read More »
Gender equality bills in Pakistan and Nigeria face religious backlash
Posted: Thu, 17 Mar 2016
Plans to protect women and promote gender equality in Pakistan and Nigeria have generated a huge religious backlash – with Muslim and Christian senators saying the Nigerian law was an attack on religion. Read More »