The Law Society must withdraw its guidance on Sharia-succession rules by Maryam Namazie We, the undersigned, are appalled to learn that the Law Society, the representative body for solicitors in England and Wales, has issued Sharia-related guidance on wills, succession and inheritance. The guidance says: “Certain principles of Sharia are different to English succession laws. For example, it is not possible to inherit under Sharia rules via a deceased relative. No distinction is made between children of different marriages, but illegitimate and adopted children are not Sharia heirs. “The male heirs in most cases receive double the amount inherited by a female heir of the same class. Non-Muslims may not inherit at all, and only Muslim marriages are recognised. Similarly, a divorced spouse is no longer a Sharia heir, as the entitlement depends on a valid Muslim marriage existing at the date of death”. Whilst not binding, the guidance legitimises rules which are highly contested by many Muslims themselves and which discriminates against Muslim women, non-Muslims, and illegitimate and adopted children. The guidance seriously undermines the Equality Act, citizenship rights and one law for all. Since individuals are already free to dispense of their estate as they see fit (as long as they provide for their dependants) such guidance unwittingly aids and abets Islamist attempts at subverting democratic laws and principles with a de facto parallel legal system where minority women and children have increasingly fewer rights than other citizens. This scandalous guidance is similar to that which Universities UK published endorsing gender segregation at universities in Britain. UUK was promptly forced to withdraw its guidance after widespread condemnation. We call on the Law Society to immediately and unequivocally withdraw its guidance. Ahlam Akram, Founder and Director of Basira for Universal Women Rights Ahmed Idris, Member of Lawyers’ Secular Society Ali al-Razi, Ex-Muslims Forum Administrator Amina Sboui, Tunisian Activist Charlie Klendjian, Secretary of Lawyers’ Secular Society Chris Moos, Secretary of LSESU Atheist, Secularist and Humanist Society Christopher Roche, Chair of Bath Atheists, Humanists and Secularists Elham Manea, Author Fariborz Pooya, Founder of Iranian Secular Society Farzana Hassan, Former Director of Muslim Canadian Congress and Writer Fatou Sow, Senegalese Sociologist Gita Sahgal, Director of Centre for Secular Space Harold Kroto, Nobel Prize Winner Imad Iddine Habib, Founder and Spokesperson of Council of Ex-Muslims of Morocco Jackie Jones, Professor of Feminist Legal Studies, Chair of Wales Assembly of Women and President of European Women Lawyers Association James Bloodworth, Editor of Left Foot Forward Julie Bindel, Writer Kate Smurthwaite, Comedian and Activist Khatija Barday-Wood, CEO and Founder of Eiman Kiran Opal, Writer and Human Rights Activist Lawrence M. Krauss, Physicist and Author Lisa-Marie Taylor and Julian Norman, Co-Chairs of Feminism in London Marieme Helie Lucas, Founder of Secularism is a Woman’s Issue Maryam Namazie, Spokesperson of One Law for All and Fitnah Mersedeh Ghaedi, London Spokesperson of Iran Tribunal Mina Ahadi, Coordinator of the International Committee against Stoning and Execution Nadia El-Fani, Filmmaker Nahla Mahmoud, Spokesperson of the Council of Ex-Muslims of Britain Nazanin Afshin-Jam, President and co Founder of Stop Child Executions Omar Kuddus, LGBTI / Human Rights Advocate and Director of GayAsylumUK Pat Black, Immediate Past President of Soroptimist International GBI Patty Debonitas, Spokesperson of Iran Solidarity Peter Tatchell, Director of the Peter Tatchell Foundation Pragna Patel, Director of Southall Black Sisters Reza Moradi, Political Activist Richard Dawkins, Scientist Robina Iqbal, Board Member of Muslim Women’s Network UK Safia Lebdi, Conseillère Régionale EELV and présidente des Insoumises Salil Tripathi, Writer Sarah Haider, Co-Founder of Ex-Muslims of North America Soad Baba Aissa, Head of Association pour la mixité, légalité et la laicité en Algérie Sohaila Sharifi, Women’s Rights Activist Soraya Chemaly, Writer and Activist Sue Cox, Co-Founder Survivors Voice Europe Tarek Fatah, Founder of Muslim Canadian Congress Taslima Nasrin, Writer Yasmin Rehman, Women’s Rights Campaigner freethoughtblogs/maryamnamazie/2014/03/27/the-law-society-must-withdraw-its-guidance-on-sharia-succession-rules/
Posted on: Thu, 27 Mar 2014 23:34:04 +0000
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