London:
As many as 85 Islamic Sharia courts are operating in the UK, 17 times higher than previously accepted, a study indicated on Monday, with a recommendation that the Islamic courts should no longer be recognized under British law.
The tribunals, working mainly from mosques, settle financial and family disputes according to religious principles. They lay down judgments which can be given full legal status if approved in national law courts.
However, the Sharia courts operate behind doors that are closed to independent observers and their decisions are likely to be unfair to women and backed by intimidation, a report by independent think-tank Civitas said.
It said decisions from Sharia tribunals can be presented to a family court judge for approval with no more detail than is necessary to complete a two page form. The Sharia courts in the Muslim Arbitration Tribunal are recognised as courts under the Arbitration Act.
The Civitas study said "the Islamic courts should no longer be recognised under British law."
Its director Dr David Green said, "The reality is that for many Muslims, Sharia courts are in practice part of an institutionalised atmosphere of intimidation, backed by the ultimate sanction of a death threat."
The Muslim Council in Britain condemned the study for "stirring up hatred".
A spokesman said, "Sharia councils are perfectly legitimate. There is no evidence they are intimidating or discriminatory against women. The system is purely voluntary so if people don't like it they can go elsewhere."
Hitherto it was known that only about five courts operating in London, Manchester, Bradford, Birmingham and Nuneaton that are run by the Muslim Arbitration Tribunal, a body whose rulings are enforced through the state courts under the 1996 Arbitration Act.
But the Civitas study by academic and Islamic specialist Denis MacEoin claimed there are at least 85 working tribunals.
According to a report in The Daily Mail, the spread of Sharia law has become increasingly controversial since its role was backed last year by Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams and Lord Phillips, the Lord Chief Justice who stepped down last October.
Dr Williams said a recognised role for Sharia law seemed "unavoidable" and Lord Phillips said there was no reason why decisions made on Sharia principles should not be recognized by the national courts.
But the Civitas report said the principles on which Sharia courts work are indicated by the fatwas, religious decrees set out on websites run by British mosques.