Author: Sadikur Rahman
The Government should be wary of its review on sharia ‘law’
Posted: Wed, 07 Feb 2018 by Sadikur Rahman
Sadikur Rahman says implementing official recommendations on sharia 'courts' would entangle civil and religious law and undermine vulnerable women's rights. The Government should instead secularise the marriage laws.
Ten years ago today Rowan Williams suggested... Read More »
State recognition of Islamic nikah marriages is no way to empower Muslim women
Posted: Wed, 22 Nov 2017 by Sadikur Rahman
Most women in the UK who have Islamic weddings are missing out on their legal rights. The solution to this problem must not lie in the automatic registration of Islamic marriages, argues Sadikur Rahman.
Channel 4's documentary The Truth about Muslim Marriage... Read More »
Sharia reviews and the case for non-accommodation and non-regulation
Posted: Fri, 11 Nov 2016 by Sadikur Rahman
Our legal system cannot be permitted to fracture into parallel codes for different religious groups. Sadikur Rahman writes on how to avoid accommodation with sharia while also protecting the rights and interests of Muslim women.
The role of sharia law as practised... Read More »
The niqab in schools: An argument for prohibition
Posted: Thu, 04 Feb 2016 by Sadikur Rahman
Sadikur Rahman argues that the case for banning full face veils in schools extends far beyond whether or not they present a barrier to learning.
The niqab, or full-face veil, is once again in the news after the chief inspector of schools, Sir Michael Wilshaw,... Read More »
Charlie Hebdo: a perspective one month on
Posted: Wed, 18 Feb 2015 by Sadikur Rahman
25 years after the Rushdie Affair, one month after the atrocities in Paris and days after the attack on a free speech seminar in Copenhagen, Sadikur Rahman looks at what lessons free expression activists and opponents have taken.
Another European city, this... Read More »
British media fails the free speech test
Posted: Fri, 09 Jan 2015 by Sadikur Rahman
The British print and media press's response to the Charlie Hebdo attack has involved victim blaming, obfuscation and self-censorship, argues Sadikur Rahman.
If there was ever a time when the British print and media press should have shown courage and strength... Read More »
Law Society, religion and the law: reasons to be cheerful
Posted: Tue, 23 Dec 2014 by Sadikur Rahman
The last year has seen a number of successful campaigns against attempts to impose religion in our secular legal system. Council member Sadikur Rahman looks at hopes for optimism in 2015.
When in March this year I wrote a humble blog piece criticising the Law... Read More »
Why is the Law Society promoting Islamic rules and legal services?
Posted: Fri, 18 Jul 2014 by Sadikur Rahman
After attending a seminar held by the Law Society on Islamic rules and legal services, Sadikur Rahman reflects upon the Society's desire to develop its members' knowledge of sharia law in the UK and questions how this contributes to Muslim people's freedoms.... Read More »
The Law Society should stay out of the theology business
Posted: Tue, 13 May 2014 by Sadikur Rahman
Sadikur Rahman, of the Lawyers' Secular Society, argues that the Law Society's response to criticism of its sharia guidance misses the point that the society has gone beyond its mandate and given credibility to discriminatory practices.
The Law Society's response... Read More »
Sharia law is well and truly operating in the UK – thanks to the Law Society
Posted: Fri, 21 Mar 2014 by Sadikur Rahman
Sadikur Rahman, of the Lawyers Secular Society, fears a practice note issued by the Law Society could compromise the Code of Conduct for solicitors and increase the application of Sharia law in the UK.
It was with incredulity that I saw this practice note ... Read More »