The head of a Muslim college in Warwickshire which houses the UK's first official sharia law court has spoke of the advantages of using the ancient system.
Faisal Aqtab Siddiqi said despite misconceptions, the system would work with British law to solve disputes and could "enrich" the current legal system. Mr Siddiqi is head of the Hijaz College Islamic University in Nuneaton - home of the Muslim Arbitration Tribunal (MAT).
The tribunal, formed last year, offers ways for the Muslim community to resolve disputes in accordance with the sacred laws.
Mr Siddiqi is head of the Hijaz College Islamic University in Nuneaton- home of the Muslim Arbitration Tribunal (MAT).
The tribunal, formed last year, offers ways for the Muslim community to resolve disputes in accordance with the sacred laws.
Mr Siddiqi said it was not the same as unofficial sharia courts reported to be operation across the country.
He said the system, part of the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) introduced in reforms of the civil justice system, dealt with commercial, civil, and matrimonial matters and some instances of domestic violence and neighbourly disputes.
He said common misconceptions of brutal punishments were not used and they also helped victims of forced marriages.
He said: "It's exactly this kind of input from sharia law that we can expect to enrich our society through the Alternative Dispute Resolution mechanism.
"We are trying to supplement English law by helping the British citizen not to be forced into or coerced into marriage."
Mr Siddiqi, himself a commercial law barrister, said the tribunal is the only ADR in existence at the moment, but others could easily form to resolve disputes in certain areas of the community.
He said: "Even the Hell's Angels could set up an ADR forum in which two can submit to the tribunal for resolution to their dispute based on the Yamaha manual
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