The Lord Chief Justice’s speech last night at the East London Muslim Centre was, to put it mildly, unhelpful. His point that English law allows people to arbitrate disputes under a pre-agreed set of rules is legally correct. But if the Lord Chief Justice is to step into such a sensitive area he should have had more thought for how the phrase “It was not very radical to advocate embracing Sharia Law in the context of family disputes” would be interpreted.
This message is not helpful to community cohesion. First, it is going to undermine the position of moderate Muslims. Second, it might be misinterpreted to deny Muslim women their legal rights—it will be said that if Sharia law is good enough for the Lord Chief Justice then it should be good enough for them. Third, it gives succour to those Islamists who wish to carve out separate areas which would operate under Sharia law not British law. The Lord Chief Justice’s speech does not advocate this but it will be quoted selectively to make this case. In this area, words matter.
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