Anne Marie Waters the British journalist activist for secularism, public ownership, civil liberties, and the power of the people to hold the state to account has published an article at the National Secular Society titled ‘Sharia Law and Free Speech’ in which she states “…There exists in Britain a network of sharia family 'courts'. They are the Muslim Arbitration Tribunal and the Islamic Sharia Council. The former operates under the powers of the Arbitration Act, and the latter is a registered charity. They both operate a system of family law which is expanding and has created a parallel legal system on family matters for Muslims. It is taking us to an increasingly divided and fractured society where application of the law is subjective and based on personal belief. The men who run these bodies are real charmers – they believe men should be able to rape and beat their wives. They believe a woman's word is worth only half of a man's, and they believe children are the property of their fathers… Some women are beginning to speak out against these 'courts' and the stories they tell are more and more disturbing. Women are being seriously abused here and we have to say so – while we're still allowed. …Talking about the sharia system in Britain is not an easy thing to do, but the brilliant Atheist, Secularist and Humanist (ASH) societies keep marching on regardless. …For the record, I have nothing against Islam per se. I would never ever object to or try to prevent Muslims practicing their religion. But when any practice is an abuse of human rights, it must be opposed by those of us who believe in human rights. I'm not against sharia family law because it's got anything to do with Islam, I'm against it because it abuses human beings, especially women…. and I insist upon my right to say so.”  Inspired by Anne Marie Waters, National Secular Society ow.ly/jBd4h Image source Twitter ow.ly/jBd3S I insist upon my right to say so (April 22 2013)

 

Anne Marie Waters the British journalist activist for secularism, public ownership, civil liberties, and the power of the people to hold the state to account has published an article at the National Secular Society titled ‘Sharia Law and Free Speech’ in which she states “…There exists in Britain a network of sharia family ‘courts’. They are the Muslim Arbitration Tribunal and the Islamic Sharia Council. The former operates under the powers of the Arbitration Act, and the latter is a registered charity. They both operate a system of family law which is expanding and has created a parallel legal system on family matters for Muslims. It is taking us to an increasingly divided and fractured society where application of the law is subjective and based on personal belief. The men who run these bodies are real charmers – they believe men should be able to rape and beat their wives. They believe a woman’s word is worth only half of a man’s, and they believe children are the property of their fathers… Some women are beginning to speak out against these ‘courts’ and the stories they tell are more and more disturbing. Women are being seriously abused here and we have to say so – while we’re still allowed. …Talking about the sharia system in Britain is not an easy thing to do, but the brilliant Atheist, Secularist and Humanist (ASH) societies keep marching on regardless. …For the record, I have nothing against Islam per se. I would never ever object to or try to prevent Muslims practicing their religion. But when any practice is an abuse of human rights, it must be opposed by those of us who believe in human rights. I’m not against sharia family law because it’s got anything to do with Islam, I’m against it because it abuses human beings, especially women…. and I insist upon my right to say so.”

 

Inspired by Anne Marie Waters, National Secular Society ow.ly/jBd4h Image source Twitter ow.ly/jBd3S