Tags: Law
The state mustn’t allow children to die for their stated religious beliefs
Posted: Thu, 26 Nov 2020 by Dr Antony Lempert
As the High Court considers whether to let a girl from a Jehovah's Witness community refuse blood transfusions, Dr Antony Lempert says the precedent of overriding a child's refusal of lifesaving treatment should be upheld. Read More »
Why make a spectacle out of religion in the courtroom?
Posted: Fri, 24 Jul 2020 by Stephen Evans
Stephen Evans argues that the current system of religious oaths and affirmations should be replaced by a universal secular declaration of the solemn duty to tell the truth. Read More »
Don’t take lessons on democracy from Church of England bishops
Posted: Fri, 04 Oct 2019 by Chris Sloggett
The bishop of London has lamented the state of British democracy while delivering a sermon at the annual judges' service. Perhaps someone should point out the undemocratic nature of her own position, says Chris Sloggett. Read More »
A judge’s decision to separate a transgender parent from her Jewish Orthodox children was deeply misguided
Posted: Fri, 10 Feb 2017 by Dr Antony Lempert
The decision to separate a transgender parent from her children gets to the heart of why faith-based harm is perpetuated and is frequently unchallenged, writes Dr Antony Lempert of the Secular Medical Forum.
A recent ruling in the Family Court of Manchester... 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 »
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 »
Diversity? No, the Law Society’s Sharia guidance has created division
Posted: Thu, 27 Mar 2014 by Charlie Klendjian
Charlie Klendjian, secretary of the Lawyers Secular Society, argues that the Law Society, a secular organisation representing solicitors in a secular legal system, has gone beyond its remit and created division with its Practice Note on sharia wills.
A couple... 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 »
Employers must justify requiring Christians to work on a Sunday (and why that wasn’t the headline in the Telegraph)
Posted: Fri, 11 Jan 2013 by Darren Newman
Next Tuesday the European Court of Human Rights rules on the cases of Eweida, Chaplin,Ladele and McFarlane. The case is likely to be quite complicated and I plan to read it very carefully and give it some serious thought before I write anything about it. After... Read More »
Religious beliefs should be respected - when rights are not impeded
Posted: Thu, 30 Aug 2012 by Joshua Rozenberg
By Joshua Rozenberg
Next week, the European Court of Human Rights will hear four claims against the UK that raise perhaps the most sensitive rights of all: the freedom of thought, conscience and religion guaranteed by article 9 of the European Convention on... Read More »
Courts rightly tend to stay out of doctrinal religious disputes
Posted: Tue, 24 Jul 2012 by David Hart QC
We have become used to the courts getting involved, more or less willingly, in religious issues, not least where religious freedoms conflict with legal rules which are said to be inconsistent with the exercise of those freedoms. But as Adam Wagner pointed... Read More »
A single oath in court for all, regardless of belief or religion
Posted: Mon, 16 Jan 2012 by Sean Templeton
Every day in Scotland, God is mentioned in courts. In particular, when juries are sworn in and when witnesses swear an oath to tell the truth during their evidence. The exception is when those opposed to swearing an oath serve on a jury or affirm to give their... Read More »
