The Archbishop of Canterbury tonight prompted criticism from across the political spectrum after he backed the introduction of sharia law in Britain and argued that adopting some of its aspects seemed "unavoidable".
Rowan Williams, the most senior figure in the Church of England, said that giving Islamic law official status in the UK would help achieve social cohesion because some Muslims did not relate to the British legal system.

However, the prime minister's spokesman swiftly rejected the archbishop's comments, which were delivered in a lecture on civil and religious law at the Royal Courts of Justice.

Gordon Brown's spokesman insisted British law would be based on British values and that sharia law would present no justification for acting against national law.

"Our general position is that sharia law cannot be used as a justification for committing breaches of English law, nor should the principles of sharia law be included in a civil court for resolving contractual disputes.

"If there are specific instances like stamp duty, where changes can be made in a way that's consistent with British law and British values, in a way to accommodate the values of fundamental Muslims, that is something the government would look at."

The Conservative peer and shadow minister for community cohesion and social action, Sayeeda Warsi, also criticised the Anglican primate.

"The archbishop's comments are unhelpful and may add to the confusion that already exists in our communities ... We must ensure that people of all backgrounds and religions are treated equally before the law.

"Freedom under the law allows respect for some religious practices. But let's be absolutely clear: all British citizens must be subject to British laws developed through parliament and the courts."

However, some Muslim groups supported Dr Williams' views on sharia law, which sets out a broad code of conduct for all aspects of life, from diet to the wearing of the hijab.

The Ramadhan Foundation, an educational and welfare body, said the speech was "testament to his attempts to understand Islam and promote tolerance and respect between our great faiths".

More than 800 people were present in the Great Hall of the Royal Courts of Justice for the speech. A further 200 poured into the overspill marquee. Plasma screens were erected to ensure people could hear and see Williams clearly, and the audience was encouraged to introduce themselves to those nearby.

Williams said introducing sharia law would mean Muslims would no longer have to choose between two systems.

"If what we want socially is a pattern of relations in which a plurality of diverse and overlapping affiliations work for a common good, and in which groups of serious and profound conviction are not systematically faced with the stark alternatives of cultural loyalty or state loyalty, it seems unavoidable."

He compared the situation to faith schools, where "communal loyalties" were brought into direct contact with wider society, leading to mutual questioning and mutual influence towards change, without compromising the "distinctiveness of the essential elements of those communal loyalties".

Earlier, in a BBC interview, he was more succinct. He said it was a "matter of fact" that sharia law was already being practised in Britain.

"It's not as if we're bringing in an alien and rival system; we already have in this country a number of situations in which the internal law of religious communities is recognised by the law of the land ... There is a place for finding what would be a constructive accommodation with some aspects of Muslim law as we already do with some kinds of aspects of other religious law."

He did not endorse the "kind of inhumanity" associated with sharia law in some Islamic states.

The Bishop of Rochester, Michael Nazir-Ali, warned last month that attempts were being made to give Britain an increasingly Islamic character.

"There is pressure already to relate aspects of the sharia to civil law in Britain," he said. "To some extent this is already true of arrangements for sharia-compliant banking but have the far-reaching implications of this been fully considered?"

The bishop, who is no stranger to controversy, also claimed that extremists have created "no-go" areas, which were too dangerous for non-Muslims to enter. He has since received death threats and was placed under police protection. He was unavailable for comment today.

http://www.theguardian.com/uk/2008/feb/07/religion.world

If Muslims there are not happy with British laws they should leave the country and move to Islamic countries where they can practise their archaic laws.

Islam is a fake religion
U want sharia laws, buh if dem put american/london visa and iran/pakistan visa, many of dem if not all will prefer to go to d "infidel" country
Dey re d biggest hypocrites we ve today

That arch Bishop is coward and sycophant, what has he done to revive the already decayed Christian body he presides over in the UK? he is the one who is now speaking for Muslim,s right while Christianity and christian rights are passing through an unprecedented public ridicule right there in his nose.

Meanwhile, a part of the article states that "there are already some no go areas, which are very dangerous for non-Muslims" hmm ! by the time it is dawn on this arch Bishop and his country, his generation will not bless him, and posterity will not remember him for good for his action.

Cast not your pearly unto the dogs, bcs they will trample it under their foot and then turn against u to bite u.

It takes a fool not to learn from history!!!

Constantinople comes to mind !!!

fools hate what they don't understand. wise one seeks for what they don't understand.. educated ones understands and embrace. elites walks in path of what they understand. . dimwitted people hates, never seek to know, never wants to understand nor walk and embrace what they don't understand. . ISLAM AND SHARIAH IS OWNED BY ALMIGHTY ALL AH

shahydbinaliyu:
fools hate what they don't understand. wise one seeks for what they don't understand.. educated ones understands and embrace. elites walks in path of what they understand. . dimwitted people hates, never seek to know, never wants to understand nor walk and embrace what they don't understand. . ISLAM AND SHARIAH IS OWNED BY ALMIGHTY ALL AH

And who is Allah

MrPristine:


And who is Allah

very good question. . now would you like to know the word that Englishman translated to God from bible? speaking of bible.. we know it's so many. . but i know original bible written in Jesus language (armaric) . . . visit www.v-a.com/bible/index.html

D beast called allahh is a blood sucking vampire!

LiveReporters:
The Archbishop of Canterbury tonight prompted criticism from across the political spectrum after he backed the introduction of sharia law in Britain and argued that adopting some of its aspects seemed "unavoidable".
Rowan Williams, the most senior figure in the Church of England, said that giving Islamic law official status in the UK would help achieve social cohesion because some Muslims did not relate to the British legal system.

However, the prime minister's spokesman swiftly rejected the archbishop's comments, which were delivered in a lecture on civil and religious law at the Royal Courts of Justice.

Gordon Brown's spokesman insisted British law would be based on British values and that sharia law would present no justification for acting against national law.

"Our general position is that sharia law cannot be used as a justification for committing breaches of English law, nor should the principles of sharia law be included in a civil court for resolving contractual disputes.

"If there are specific instances like stamp duty, where changes can be made in a way that's consistent with British law and British values, in a way to accommodate the values of fundamental Muslims, that is something the government would look at."

The Conservative peer and shadow minister for community cohesion and social action, Sayeeda Warsi, also criticised the Anglican primate.

"The archbishop's comments are unhelpful and may add to the confusion that already exists in our communities ... We must ensure that people of all backgrounds and religions are treated equally before the law.

"Freedom under the law allows respect for some religious practices. But let's be absolutely clear: all British citizens must be subject to British laws developed through parliament and the courts."

However, some Muslim groups supported Dr Williams' views on sharia law, which sets out a broad code of conduct for all aspects of life, from diet to the wearing of the hijab.

The Ramadhan Foundation, an educational and welfare body, said the speech was "testament to his attempts to understand Islam and promote tolerance and respect between our great faiths".

More than 800 people were present in the Great Hall of the Royal Courts of Justice for the speech. A further 200 poured into the overspill marquee. Plasma screens were erected to ensure people could hear and see Williams clearly, and the audience was encouraged to introduce themselves to those nearby.

Williams said introducing sharia law would mean Muslims would no longer have to choose between two systems.

"If what we want socially is a pattern of relations in which a plurality of diverse and overlapping affiliations work for a common good, and in which groups of serious and profound conviction are not systematically faced with the stark alternatives of cultural loyalty or state loyalty, it seems unavoidable."

He compared the situation to faith schools, where "communal loyalties" were brought into direct contact with wider society, leading to mutual questioning and mutual influence towards change, without compromising the "distinctiveness of the essential elements of those communal loyalties".

Earlier, in a BBC interview, he was more succinct. He said it was a "matter of fact" that sharia law was already being practised in Britain.

"It's not as if we're bringing in an alien and rival system; we already have in this country a number of situations in which the internal law of religious communities is recognised by the law of the land ... There is a place for finding what would be a constructive accommodation with some aspects of Muslim law as we already do with some kinds of aspects of other religious law."

He did not endorse the "kind of inhumanity" associated with sharia law in some Islamic states.

The Bishop of Rochester, Michael Nazir-Ali, warned last month that attempts were being made to give Britain an increasingly Islamic character.

"There is pressure already to relate aspects of the sharia to civil law in Britain," he said. "To some extent this is already true of arrangements for sharia-compliant banking but have the far-reaching implications of this been fully considered?"

The bishop, who is no stranger to controversy, also claimed that extremists have created "no-go" areas, which were too dangerous for non-Muslims to enter. He has since received death threats and was placed under police protection. He was unavailable for comment today.

http://www.theguardian.com/uk/2008/feb/07/religion.world

since 7years ago news, infact some people are dumb ass since 2008-02-07 is that new news?

shahydbinaliyu:
fools hate what they don't understand. . ISLAM AND SHARIAH IS OWNED BY ALMIGHTY ALL AH

And who told you that Islamic al.lah is the almighty ??

He is a product of the anti Christ, and alter ego of mohammed. A moon god worshipped by mohammeds tribe and subsequently adopted by mohammed to perpertuate his fraud. One of the 360 gods of the kaaba.
Mohammed was an advocate for immorality.

Yet u choose to embrace him because a book he recited says he is the "perfect" example.

The bishop is ignorant. The Anglican church in the uk is a joke. Enjoy your folly.

Sharia Britain.. the French tried it, look at where it got them - all in the name of cultural diversity.. a religion that does not diversify, does not mix and does not submit to any law or anyone - British F00ls

reasonable archbishop,unlike the bling-blings wearing arms dealer (sorrie) I mean Vampire Hunter we have here.

Ifeann:


And who told you that Islamic al.lah is the almighty ??

He is a product of the anti Christ, and alter ego of mohammed. A moon god worshipped by mohammeds tribe and subsequently adopted by mohammed to perpertuate his fraud. One of the 360 gods of the kaaba.
Mohammed was an advocate for immorality.

Yet u choose to embrace him because a book he recited says he is the "perfect" example.

The bishop is ignorant. The Anglican church in the uk is a joke. Enjoy your folly.

Allah(SWT) is the Almighty you ****,not some crucified rapist thief.

This story is from 2008.

Why is it being brought up now?

MrPristine:


And who is Allah

.

tartar9:
Allah(SWT) is the Almighty you ****,not some crucified rapist thief.

am better than allah and mohamMAD in terms morality. A toothless god.

jcross19:
am a rapist armed-robber yet still better than my crucified MAD thief in terms morality. A toothless god.

who doesn't know.

Empiree:
.

And since when did your quoran become a credible source of information

LiveReporters:
The Archbishop of Canterbury tonight prompted criticism from across the political spectrum after he backed the introduction of sharia law in Britain and argued that adopting some of its aspects seemed "unavoidable".
Rowan Williams, the most senior figure in the Church of England, said that giving Islamic law official status in the UK would help achieve social cohesion because some Muslims did not relate to the British legal system.

However, the prime minister's spokesman swiftly rejected the archbishop's comments, which were delivered in a lecture on civil and religious law at the Royal Courts of Justice.

Gordon Brown's spokesman insisted British law would be based on British values and that sharia law would present no justification for acting against national law.

"Our general position is that sharia law cannot be used as a justification for committing breaches of English law, nor should the principles of sharia law be included in a civil court for resolving contractual disputes.

"If there are specific instances like stamp duty, where changes can be made in a way that's consistent with British law and British values, in a way to accommodate the values of fundamental Muslims, that is something the government would look at."

The Conservative peer and shadow minister for community cohesion and social action, Sayeeda Warsi, also criticised the Anglican primate.

"The archbishop's comments are unhelpful and may add to the confusion that already exists in our communities ... We must ensure that people of all backgrounds and religions are treated equally before the law.

"Freedom under the law allows respect for some religious practices. But let's be absolutely clear: all British citizens must be subject to British laws developed through parliament and the courts."

However, some Muslim groups supported Dr Williams' views on sharia law, which sets out a broad code of conduct for all aspects of life, from diet to the wearing of the hijab.

The Ramadhan Foundation, an educational and welfare body, said the speech was "testament to his attempts to understand Islam and promote tolerance and respect between our great faiths".

More than 800 people were present in the Great Hall of the Royal Courts of Justice for the speech. A further 200 poured into the overspill marquee. Plasma screens were erected to ensure people could hear and see Williams clearly, and the audience was encouraged to introduce themselves to those nearby.

Williams said introducing sharia law would mean Muslims would no longer have to choose between two systems.

"If what we want socially is a pattern of relations in which a plurality of diverse and overlapping affiliations work for a common good, and in which groups of serious and profound conviction are not systematically faced with the stark alternatives of cultural loyalty or state loyalty, it seems unavoidable."

He compared the situation to faith schools, where "communal loyalties" were brought into direct contact with wider society, leading to mutual questioning and mutual influence towards change, without compromising the "distinctiveness of the essential elements of those communal loyalties".

Earlier, in a BBC interview, he was more succinct. He said it was a "matter of fact" that sharia law was already being practised in Britain.

"It's not as if we're bringing in an alien and rival system; we already have in this country a number of situations in which the internal law of religious communities is recognised by the law of the land ... There is a place for finding what would be a constructive accommodation with some aspects of Muslim law as we already do with some kinds of aspects of other religious law."

He did not endorse the "kind of inhumanity" associated with sharia law in some Islamic states.

The Bishop of Rochester, Michael Nazir-Ali, warned last month that attempts were being made to give Britain an increasingly Islamic character.

"There is pressure already to relate aspects of the sharia to civil law in Britain," he said. "To some extent this is already true of arrangements for sharia-compliant banking but have the far-reaching implications of this been fully considered?"

The bishop, who is no stranger to controversy, also claimed that extremists have created "no-go" areas, which were too dangerous for non-Muslims to enter. He has since received death threats and was placed under police protection. He was unavailable for comment today.

http://www.theguardian.com/uk/2008/feb/07/religion.world

The wiser ones are beginning to catch glimpses of the light.

MrPristine:


And since when did your quoran become a credible source of information

570AD