GETTY Home Secretary Theresa May described Sharia Law as 'greatly beneficial' to many Britons

FREE now SUBSCRIBE Invalid email Make the most of your money by signing up to our newsletter fornow We will use your email address only for sending you newsletters. Please see our Privacy Notice for details of your data protection rights.

The Home Secretary made the controversial remarks as she announced the Government is set to investigate the “misuse” of Islamist law to subjugate women. Top Tory Mrs May, who wants Britain to stay in the European Union, insisted the inquiry will not look into the legality of Sharia Law courts in a move designed to reassure Muslims. Instead it will focus on instances where traditional Islamic doctrine is being “exploited” to discriminate against Muslim women.

There are thought to be around 100 Sharia Law courts operating throughout the UK, dispensing Islamic justice outside the remit of our own legal system. Judgements handed down by the informal courts have no legal basis, but there are fears their presence means many Muslim women are not getting access to the justice they deserve. But in a controversial intervention Mrs May yesterday claimed many British Muslims “benefit a great deal” from their existence.

GETTY The Home Secretary has announced a review into the operation of Sharia courts

As long as sharia councils exist, minorities within minorities + women will face pressure to use religious 'courts'. https://t.co/MmBbFguJX3 — Secularism UK (@NatSecSoc) May 26, 2016

Furious commenters took to social media to blast the Home Secretary's comments, which they branded "unbelievable". Belinda Wood ‏tweeted: "Theresa May hails Sharia Benefits!! What is happening, a home sec seems to want a secondary law system for those seeking to destroy democracy. Another user called Lithlad ‏said: "While Theresa May explores the benefits of sharia law, Saudi Arabia bans cat photos for being 'too Western'. I hate this septic isle." And a third, going under the name P.Pink, simply responded: "God help us, from atheist." Nile Gardiner, a foreign policy analyst and former aide to Margaret Thatcher, was also unimpressed by the comments, describing them as "unbelievable".

GETTY Mrs May insisted the review will tackle instances of gender discrimination

GETTY There are believed to be around 85 sharia courts operating in the UK

Many British people of different faiths follow religious codes and practices, and benefit a great deal from the guidance they offer Home Secretary Theresa May

Mrs May's remarks came as she launched a Home Office probe, led by Professor Mona Siddiqui, investigating the treatment of women in cases involving divorce, domestic violence and child custody. She said: “Many British people of different faiths follow religious codes and practices, and benefit a great deal from the guidance they offer. “A number of women have reportedly been victims of what appear to be discriminatory decisions taken by Sharia councils, and that is a significant concern. “There is only one rule of law in our country, which provides rights and security for every citizen. “Professor Siddiqui, supported by a panel with a strong balance of academic, religious and legal expertise, will help us better understand whether and the extent to which Sharia law is being misused or exploited and make recommendations to the Government on how to address this.”

Theresa May INSISTS many British people “benefit a great deal” from guidance offered by Sharia teaching......Hmm interesting — Ernie Warrender (@ErnieWarrender) 27 May 2016

The review, which will last up to 18 months, will investigate whether there are instances where British law is being broken in the name of Sharia. It will also attempt to catalogue the number of Islamic courts and councils operating across Britain for the very first time. But Mrs May was quick to emphasises that the inquiry will only look at how Sharia ideas were being “misused or exploited” rather than a broader examination of whether the teaching itself discriminates against women. In a ministerial statement announcing the review Home Office minister Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon insisted: “It will not be a review of the totality of Sharia law, which is a source of guidance for many Muslims in the UK.” Professor Siddiqui added: “At a time when there is so much focus on Muslims in the UK, this will be a wide ranging, timely and thorough review as to what actually happens in Sharia councils.”