Sharia courts administering Islamic justice in Britain are run by clerics who believe some offenders should have their hands chopped off, an investigation has found.

Muslim scholar Elham Manea said that some clerics also believe girls can be married at the age of 12 and described their prevailing attitude as ‘totalitarian’ and more backward than some parts of Pakistan.

The findings from the human rights specialist come amid continuing controversy over the role of sharia courts, which rule in family and inheritance disputes between Muslims who agree to be bound by the decisions. There are thought to be around 85 operating in Britain.

Sharia courts administering Islamic justice in Britain are run by clerics who believe some offenders should have their hands chopped off, an investigation has found (file picture)

Last December, Home Secretary Theresa May set up an independent review into their role, amid fears that they discriminate against women.

Professor Manea, who is based at Zurich University, spent four years speaking to clerics at sharia courts in London and the Midlands. Her book on the project concludes that the courts represent ‘closed communities’.

Her findings, published by The Sunday Times, said that they increase ‘segregation, inequality and discrimination’ and can encourage ‘political instability and home-grown terrorism’.

The verdict was strongly disputed by the Muslim Council of Britain, which said it was committed to ensuring sharia courts treat parties with respect and fairness and that they apply ‘rules of natural justice’.

Professor Manea gave examples of incidents involving British sharia courts – which included that of a young woman forced to marry her cousin in Pakistan, who was subsequently raped on their wedding night. The woman appealed to a tribunal in Britain – which found that since she was married there could be no rape.

The professor quoted one cleric saying that ‘puberty is the right age’ for a girl to marry, and that 12 and 13-year-old girls are ‘more or less fully–fledged women’. Another was reported saying ‘a man should not be questioned why he hit his wife because this is something between them’.

Another said it was fair that in matters of inheritance a woman should get half that of a man. Professor Manea also found that a number of the clerics agreed with the idea that some offenders should have their hands chopped off as a form of ‘corporal punishment’.

Muslim scholar Elham Manea said that some clerics also believe girls can be married at the age of 12

She said in the book, Women And Sharia Law: The Impact Of Legal Pluralism In The UK: ‘The fatwas and opinions of these men have grave consequences. A child will be raped in the name of religion. A woman will be beaten in the name of religion.’

She is also critical of British public figures, such as the former Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, who have lent support to sharia courts.

Some sharia courts operate by consent among those who use them and others operate under arbitration law. A similar arrangement covers Jewish beth din courts.

A spokesman for the Muslim Council of Britain said: ‘These bodies have no enforcement powers and operate only with consent of parties. Either party, if dissatisfied, is free to seek redress from courts in the UK.

‘Sharia law is subservient to the civil as well as criminal law. We cannot comment on the complaints referred to in the book, as the MCB is not aware of the full facts.