Tags: Marriage
Major reform is needed to ensure equality and fairness in marriage law
Posted: Mon, 13 Sep 2021 by Russell Sandberg
Marriage law in England and Wales has failed to keep up with changing social realities. Russell Sandberg, the author of a new book on the topic, calls for change to put couples – not religious institutions – in control. Read More »
Problems around Islamic marriage require a secular solution
Posted: Fri, 28 Aug 2020 by Megan Manson
A new report says compulsory registration for Islamic marriages is needed to tackle discrimination and abuse. Megan Manson argues broad reform to marriage laws is a better way to ensure fairness and equality for all. Read More »
It’s time for one marriage law for all
Posted: Tue, 07 Jul 2020 by Megan Manson
A new High Court challenge to get humanist marriages legally recognised in England and Wales gives us an opportunity to consider how to reform our marriage laws for greater simplicity, equality and freedom, says Megan Manson. Read More »
Outdoor marriage shouldn't be restricted on religious grounds
Posted: Thu, 11 Jun 2020 by Megan Manson
The government is reportedly planning to allow couples to marry outdoors as we emerge from lockdown. This is a chance to make marriage more equal and free for all permanently, says Megan Manson. Read More »
Don’t let religious interests make divorce any harder than it needs to be
Posted: Thu, 05 Mar 2020 by Chris Sloggett
The Church of England and its supporters are opposing plans to make it easier for couples to divorce without assigning blame. Chris Sloggett says parliamentarians should resist their lobbying. Read More »
The Church of England’s position on sex is yet another reason for disestablishment
Posted: Thu, 30 Jan 2020 by Keith Porteous Wood
The C of E's position that sex is only for heterosexual married couples is heartless, discriminatory and out of touch with the country it supposedly serves. Time to cut its ties to the state, says Keith Porteous Wood. Read More »
Election 2019: Where do the major parties stand on secularist issues?
Posted: Thu, 28 Nov 2019 by Megan Manson
Megan Manson studies the election manifestos for the main UK-wide parties – and says religion will continue to be a dividing force in UK politics during the next parliament.
Earlier this month the National Secular Society launched a 'secularist manifesto'... Read More »
Don’t let mixed-sex civil partnerships distract from the need for marriage reform
Posted: Wed, 03 Oct 2018 by Chris Sloggett
Campaigners' elation at the arrival of opposite-sex civil partnerships is understandable, says Chris Sloggett. But beware politicians using it to excuse their failure to loosen the Church of England's grip on marriage.
It's hard to begrudge Rebecca Steinfeld... Read More »
Just how equal is marriage now?
Posted: Sun, 10 Jun 2018 by Megan Manson
After the NSS revealed the extra hassle and expense involved in arranging same-sex and non-religious weddings in England and Wales, Megan Manson calls for marriage to be made a civil affair in the eyes of the law.
The institution of marriage has radically transformed.... Read More »
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 »
Is it time to separate church and state in marriage?
Posted: Thu, 13 Dec 2012 by Norman Bonney
By Norman Bonney
One fact that the on-going debate over equal marriage has highlighted is that current marriage laws in England and Wales are of Byzantine complexity. They grant the power to many, but not all, religious organisations to register marriages on... Read More »
