MPs on the Commons home affairs committee have launched an inquiry into the operation of sharia courts in the UK to ensure their principles are compatible with British law.



The announcement follows the establishment of a similar investigation by the Home Office last month.

Among the topics on which the committee is seeking evidence are: the range of services offered by sharia councils, reasons for their use, and how sharia law deals with family, divorce, domestic violence and child custody cases.

The inquiry will also look into the extent to which sharia councils might discriminate against women, and how they are funded.



MPs will consider how sharia councils compare with other religious courts operating in the UK, such as the Jewish rabbinical Beth Din court, how such systems operate in other jurisdictions abroad and whether there should be government monitoring or oversight.

The chair of the committee, Keith Vaz, said: “We will be hearing evidence from both observers and practitioners of these courts, and are currently accepting written evidence on a wide range of issues, including the compatibility of sharia courts with British law.”

The separate Home Office inquiry is being led by Mona Siddiqui, a professor of Islamic and interreligious studies at the University of Edinburgh. That inquiry focuses on identical areas including divorce, domestic violence and custody cases. The Home Office investigation is not due to report until next year.