It would be an understatement to say that there has been much heated debate since the Archbishop of Canterbury’s comments regarding Sharia law, and the extent to which the adoption of some aspects of it in the UK seem, in his words, to be “unavoidable”. The media coverage has focused on what the Archbishop himself called “the darker side of Sharia” such as beheadings, amputations and the secondary role of women. But is this what Sharia really means and how unacceptable is it to suggest that it should have the same rights as other religious legal systems already recognised by UK law? A report by Kevin Bocquet was followed by a live discussion between the Rt Rev John Goddard, the Bishop of Burnley, the Rev Giles Fraser, Vicar of Putney, and the religious commentator and broadcaster, Paul Vallely of the Independent, with reaction from Archbishop Gregory Venables of the Southern Cone.
N.B. This is entirely worth listening to – especially as it offers a real glimpse (well, a listen) of the media pack who have indeed distorted seriously.