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Scots faith leaders support Sharia debate

The Church of Scotland has accused politicians of being too quick to reject the Archbishop of Canterbury's suggestion that Sharia laws be recognised in Britain.

Dr Rowan Williams, the leader of the Anglican Church, yesterday called for an "accommodation" with parts of the Islamic legal code, but this was immediately dismissed by Number 10 and the Scottish Government yesterday.

But Morag Mylne, the convenor of the Church of Scotland's council, said the Anglican leader was sparking a sensible debate about the role of faith and law.

And challenging a statement from the Prime Minister, she said: "There is a difficulty in saying British law is informed by British values. That begs the question, what are British values?"

She added: "There can be a compatibility with the same law applying to us all but recognising for different groups there are ways of resolving disputes that are particular to them."

She also said that faith was already recognised under English and Scots laws. For example, doctors who hold religious views do not have to carry out abortions.

Bashir Maan, the convenor of the Muslim Council of Scotland, said he was mystified at the furore.

"Why are people so uptight? Those who are saying the Archbishop should never have started the debate should recognise that the Archbishop has got the right to free speech."

Mr Maan added that elements of Sharia already operated in the Muslim community and were recognised by the state, for example in Islamic mortgages and wills. But he said there should be greater recognition of other Islamic rules such as the code governing divorce and inheritance.

The Scottish Episcopal Church, however, said it would oppose any formal change to the law. A spokeswoman for the Most Rev Dr Idris Jones said: "The law is the law and it is not something that can be compromised."

Full story at The Scotsman.