Child marriage allegation

BBC News, Imam charged after children married in mosque, 2 Sep 2025

"Northamptonshire Police said Ashraf Osmani had been charged under forced marriage legislation after he allegedly conducted a Nikah wedding ceremony involving two 16-year-olds at Northampton Central Mosque in November 2023."

Discussion on "halala" marriages

Athar Ahmad, BBC News, The women who sleep with a stranger to save their marriage, 5 Apr 2017 "A number of online services are charging "divorced" Muslim women thousands of pounds to take part in "halala" Islamic marriages, a BBC investigation has found. Women pay to marry, have sex with and then divorce a stranger, so they can get back with their first husbands."

Law Society

Matt Rowland Hill, Independent, Why is the Law Society throwing its weight behind a regressive form of Islam? opinion "The nature of British Islam in not fixed: both moderates like Dr Hasan and reactionaries with their flyblown dogma hope to inherit a greater share of its future. The case continues and continues. Meanwhile is it too much to ask of the Law Society to refrain from taking sides?"

Panorama: Secrets of Britain's Sharia Councils

BBC One - Panorama: Secrets of Britain's Sharia Councils "Panorama goes undercover to investigate what is really happening in Britain's Sharia Councils - Islamic religious courts. Some women reveal they have suffered domestic violence ignored by these councils as campaigners say it is time to tackle the parallel legal system which can run counter to British law."

Shari'ah issues

The Economist, Sharia in the West: Whose law counts most?, 14 Oct 2010 "ANY Western politician, judge or religious leader desiring instant fame or a dose of controversy has an easy option. All you need do is say “sharia” in public."

Overview/opinion.

'One Law for All Campaign'

pinkpaper.com, Hundreds expected for Sharia law rally, this weekend, 17 June 2010 "Hundreds of activists will take to the streets of London this weekend in a major demonstration against Sharia law.

"The rally, organised by the One Law for All Campaign, will be held from 2pm to 4pm at Richmond Terrace, in Whitehall, opposite Downing Street, SW1."

Details of the campaign One Law for All are here. Their report Sharia Law in Britain, written by Maryam Namazie, can be downloaded here. I haven't read this report yet.

So far, I haven't picked up reactions to this from the Muslim Council of Britain or the Muslim Arbitration Tribunal - to name but two organisations that would have an interest in this subject. I shall be monitoring coverage this weekend.

There's more information on the report's author here: Maryam Namazie (blog); maryamnamazie.com; Maryam Namazie: Wikipedia