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09/16/2008: "Sharia courts operating in Britain"

Civil courts based on Islamic law have been operating in Britain for more than a year.

British Muslims have followed the Jewish example of operating a rabbinical court, or bet din, based on the country's arbitration law.

The Muslim courts are based on the sharia law, and rule on divorce, financial disputes, inheritance and even domestic violence, as long as both parties agree to accept the authority of the court. Once the parties accept the authority of the court, its rulings can be enforced through the county and high court.

The Islamic courts are classified by British law as arbitration tribunals.

[ Jewish religious courts, Beth Din, have been operating in Britain for centuries - however Judaism is not threatening to become the national religion and doesn't have an intention of converting the world to its faith. This is why the Sharia Courts are more worrying to Britons. ]

http://www.jta.org/cgi-bin/iowa/breaking/110382.html