The Quest for Gender Equality: The Case of Shari’a Councils in England and Wales
The Quest for Gender Equality: The Case of Shari’a Councils in England and Wales
Imam Salah al-Ansari
&
Mosa Albazi
 
Abstract: The application of Islamic law of personal status in the Shari’a Councils in England and Wales has always attracted the attention of researchers, observers as well as policy makers. In 2016, then Home Secretary Theresa May commissioned an independent panel of academic, lawyers and community experts to assess the application of the Islamic law of personal status, particularly divorce and Khul’, at the Shari’a Councils in England and Wales to find out the extent to which Muslim women are discriminated against based on their gender and how can the British Government respond to that. The panel report titled the independent review into the application of Sharia law in England and Wales was published in 2018. This note analyses the panel report and argues that reforming some of the classical Islamic law views is vital in eliminating gender inequality in addition to cultural, legal and governance reform initiatives.

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