Mon 18 Feb 2008 

The Archbishop of Canterbury's historic lecture on "Islam in English Law" at the Royal Courts of Justice last week has ignited a national debate about the relationship between law and religion in the United Kingdom.

UK law already makes special concessions for faith groups: marriages solemnised in many churches, synagogues and mosques do not require a separate civil registration; the decree absolute of civil divorce is not granted to Jewish couples until they have obtained a Jewish divorce from a recognised Beth Din in order to guarantee the rights of Jewish women; Sikh motorcyclists who wear a traditional turban are exempted from having to wear a helmet; etc.

Is there a case for legal pluralism within UK law? How do Beths Din and Sharia councils work with respect to UK law? What would be the impacts of any changes to the status quo on human rights, especially those of women?

With panel of experts:
PRAKASH SHAH is Senior Lecturer in Law at Queen Mary University of London and author of "Legal Pluralism in Conflict: Coping With Cultural Diversity in Law" (Cavendish, 2005)

FAIZ SIDDIQUI is the principal and founding trustee of Hijaz College in Nuneaton, a Muslim school that combines traditional Islamic education with the UK National Curriculum. He is also a barrister under English and Welsh Law, and a member of Lincoln's Inn.

CASSANDRA BALCHIN is a freelance researcher, writer and human-rights advocacy trainer, and has been part of the network, "Women Living Under Muslim Laws" (WLUML) for fifteen years. Formerly a journalist based in Pakistan, she has published on Muslim family laws and international development policy regarding religion.

Part 1