The Sharia Council of Britain, who preside over marital disputes in Islamic communities[AFP/GETTY]

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New guidance from The Law Society means that High Street solicitors will be able to write Islamic wills which would have to be recognised by British courts.

But the society has been accused of sacrificing hard-won equal rights, after instructing those drawing up Islamic wills to recognise that women heirs typically receive half the inheritance of male heirs.

The documents can also prevent children born out of wedlock and those who are adopted from being legitimate heirs.

Any relatives who were not married in a Muslim wedding can also be excluded.

Campaigners have warned that the move could pave the way for a 'parallel legal system' for the UK's Muslim communities.

And Baroness Cox, who is leading a Parliamentary campaign to protect women from religiously sanctioned discrimination, branded the decision "deeply disturbing", adding that she planned to raise the issue with ministers.

She said: "This violates everything that we stand for. It would make the Suffragettes turn in their graves.

"Everyone has freedom to make their own will and everyone has freedom to let those wills reflect their religious beliefs.

"But to have an organisation such as The Law Society seeming to promote or encourage a policy which is inherently gender discriminatory in a way which will have very serious implications for women and possibly for children is a matter of deep concern."