Another Step Close To Sharia

[chrisgel]

The Law Society has written guidelines for solicitors on how to draw up Sharia compliant wills.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/10716844/Islamic-law-is-adopted-by-British-legal-chiefs.html?fb

"Nicholas Fluck, president of The Law Society, said the guidance would promote “good practice” in applying Islamic principles in the British legal system. "

Should we be incorporating any religious principles into our legal system given that most religions and especially Islam include elements of unfairness to some sections of society or other?

[naomi24]

Keyplus isn't worried.

[Eve]

Muslim wills are big business, I imagine this is a step to help make sure they are properly regulated, as are other areas of law.

[woofgang]

Naomi, the only women or men who receive the protection of the law are those who have been legally married, It may have changed, but when I got married, the only religious leaders who can also legally register the marriage are those in the Church of England. If you get married in any other religion, the marriage also has to be registered by a registrar for it to be recognised as a legal marriage in the uk. I have been having a search around and I think that's still true.

New Judge if what you say is true, I mean your interpretation of the facts, then If I was a solicitor, I would be worried. If I have understood you correctly, your interpretation is someone making a will can put what they like in it, but a solicitor can only write it for them if it complies with the equality requirements that you state (sorry I can't remember what it was and can't look back at your post) I could well imagine that if I or anyone was employing a solicitor to do something and they said "I am sorry, I can't write that for you because it doesn't comply with my professional equality requirements," I'd say "well blow you jack i'll either find someone who will or I'll do it myself." Customer 1,
legal profession 0.

[naomi24]

Woofgang, I feel like I'm speaking a foreign language - see my post at 12.54.

[woofgang]

see my post at 14.35. They do have recourse to british law, what they don't have is an automatic right to inherit if the deceased dies intestate, or the same inheritance tax advantage as a legal spouse. This doesn't just apply to a Muslim marriage which is not registered but to any marriage in any religion which has not been registered by a Registrar according to law.

[naomi24]

Woofgang, I know. You’re repeating what’s already been said. However, It should be borne in mind that marriages involving Jews, Catholics, and the rest of the adherents to the Abrahamic faiths, although usually involving a registrar, thereby rendering the unions legitimate, are not the issue. We are talking here about Islamic marriages that don’t involve registrars – hence rendering those marriages invalid in the eyes of the law.

[jno]

the Telegraph's story was described in the Standard as " total, steaming horse eggs from top to bottom". That seems pretty accurate

www.standard.co.uk/comment/sam-leith-dont-fall-for-the-latest-sharia-law-scare-story-9212073.html

[naomi24]

Sam Leith hasn't thought this through. Naïve.