Preventing Discrimination in Arbitration

Bill Limiting Sharia Law is Motivated by “Concern for Muslim Women”

The Guardian
June 8, 2011

The 1996 Arbitration Act in the United Kingdom allows the verdicts of Jewish Beth Din courts and Sharia Tribunals to be enforced by county courts or the high courts. The scope of these arbitrations is limited to civil disputes involving financial and property issues. However, in recent years the tribunals allegedly began crossing the proper limits of their jurisdiction by giving advice on marriage and divorce.

A new bill has been proposed which aims to prevent discrimination against Muslim women and “jurisdiction creep” in Islamic tribunals. Proposer of the bill Lady Cox said, “Equality under the law is a core value of British justice. My bill seeks to preserve that standard” The Arbitration and Mediation Services (Equality) Bill will carry a five-year jail sentence for anyone falsely claiming or implying that sharia courts or councils have legal jurisdiction over family or criminal law.

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