GETTY Muslim men can have multiple wifes under Sharia law

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Cross-bench peer Baroness Cox raised several "shocking" cases of Sharia law "discriminating" against Muslim women – and claimed it could even fuel extremism. She revealed cases of men divorcing their wives by simply saying "I divorce you" three times under the "quasi-legal system". She said: "My Muslim friends tell me that in some communities with high polygamy and divorce rates, men may have up to 20 children each."

She added: "Clearly, youngsters growing up in dysfunctional families may be vulnerable to extremism and demography may affect democracy." Baroness Cox also claimed a 63-year-old man asked a gynaecologist to "repair the hymen" of his 23-year-old wife so she could remarry a man a who needed a British visa. He reportedly stood to make a staggering £10,000 for his role in the agreement. She said a loophole in the 2010 Equality Act allows Sharia courts to practice "gender discrimination".

GETTY Britain's first Sharia compliant bank opened in 2004

We cannot tolerate a situation where any woman is living in fear and isolation Baroness Donaghy

Labour's Baroness Donaghy added: "We cannot afford to go backwards and tolerate a situation where any woman is living in fear and isolation. "More needs to be done. This is not confined to Sharia law or Muslim religion. "These parallel laws which discriminate against women have existed and may still exist in other religions."

GETTY Peers debated Sharia law yesterday at the House of Lords