London – (IINA) February 09 – The Archbishop of Canterbury has defended his comments on Islamic Sharia law, following widespread criticism. A statement on his website said that he “certainly did not call for its introduction as some kind of parallel jurisdiction to the civil law”. However, at least two General Synod members have called for Dr Rowan Williams to resign following the row. Colonel Edward Armitstead told the Daily Telegraph: “I don’t think he is the man for the job.” Speaking to BBC radio on Thursday, Dr. Williams had called for parts of Shariah law to be recognized in the UK, and he is said to be in a state of shock and dismayed by the criticism he has received from his own Church.
The statement on the Archbishop’s website also said Dr Williams had pointed out that “as a matter of fact, certain provisions of Sharia are already recognized in our society and under our law”. The statement said he was “exploring ways in which reasonable accommodation might be made within existing arrangements for religious conscience”. It also said his principal aim was “to tease out some of the broader issues around the rights of religious groups within a secular state”. The Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) said it was grateful for the Archbishop’s “thoughtful intervention” on the discussion of the place of Islam and Muslims in modern Britain. “The MCB observes, with some sadness, the hysterical misrepresentations of his speech which serves only to drive a wedge between British people,” a spokesman said.
Dr. Rowan Williams told Radio 4’s World at One that the adoption of certain aspects of Shariah law in the UK “seems unavoidable.” The UK has to “face up to the fact” that some of its citizens do not relate to the British legal system. Dr. Williams argues that adopting parts of Islamic Shariah law would help maintain social cohesion. For example, Muslims could choose to have marital disputes or financial matters dealt with in a Shariah court. He says Muslims should not have to choose between “the stark alternatives of cultural loyalty or state loyalty”.