MUSLIM leaders have dismissed reports that a secret Sharia court is operating in Burton as ‘nonsense’ and ‘completely misleading’.
The Imam Jamia mosque, in Princess Street, is included in a list of centres which are alleged to put members breaking Islamic law on trial, independently of the Crown Prosecution Service.
The list was produced by researchers working on a report on Sharia courts in the UK. It was not included in the final report but was highlighted in regional newspaper The Sunday Mercury this week.
However, prominent Muslims in Burton say the list, compiled following a study by think tank Civitas, is ‘nonsense’.
According to the study, the courts hand out rulings including allowing men to force their wives into sex and banning Muslims from joining the police. Civitas researcher Denis Maceion said: “The list is not included in the report because we cannot be totally sure if it’s complete, or if the mosques have, or have had, courts at some stage. However, the information comes from a very reliable source.” Hasiz Ghazli, chief Imam of Burton, assured the Mail there were no Sharia courts at the town’s two main mosques — in Princess Street and Uxbridge Street.
Jawiad Hussain, president of the Imam Jamia mosque, said: “There is no Sharia court here — this information is completely misleading.” However, Amir Kabal, chairman of the East Staffordshire Racial Equality Council, said the mosque councils did resolve some civil disputes.
He said: “If people have issues to do with religion, the Imam is always happy to listen to them and help them, but that’s not a Sharia court as such.
“Imams and councils do sort out civil disputes and help to resolve issues, but that is not entirely based on Islamic principles, more human decency, respect and tolerance.
“That is much the same as in any other religion, like someone attending a Catholic church, for example.” Mr Kabal said he believed Sharia law cannot co-exist with UK law.
He said: “People are free to practice any religion but Sharia Law cannot work alongside the law of the land.
“In Pakistan, there is a court passed by the constitution, then a Sharia court through which people can appeal — that doesn’t exist in our country.
“There are no recognised Sharia courts in the UK and they would not work anyway — it’s just not practical.” Shaid Hussain, owner of Good News, in High Street, and a voluntary worker at the mosque, said: “We are trying to engage people and say ‘this is your country, do not veer towards extremism’.
“There are definitely no Sharia courts in Burton and it baffles me to hear suggestions to the contrary.
“The Imam and the mosque recognises this is the UK and we want to work alongside the laws of the country, not against them.
“The police and Muslim community leaders work very closely to support each other and we have a good relationship.”