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SAYS Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury:

But Dr Williams says the argument that “there’s one law for everybody… I think that’s a bit of a danger”.”There’s a place for finding what would be a constructive accommodation with some aspects of Muslim law, as we already do with some other aspects of religious law.”

Dr Williams adds: “What we don’t want either, is I think, a stand-off, where the law squares up to people’s religious consciences.”

“We don’t either want a situation where, because there’s no way of legally monitoring what communities do… people do what they like in private in such a way that that becomes another way of intensifying oppression inside a community.”

You can convert to Christianity, and tread the path to salvation. Yet here is the head of the Church of England enthusing about another religion. It’s not Islamaphobia it’s Islamaphilia, an obsession with all things Muslim.

Williams advances the idea that Muslims are so totally different to the rest of society they must be legislated for. His views are at best patronising, and at worst divisive.

Williams says the adoption of certain aspects of Sharia law in the UK “seems unavoidable”. Dr Williams argues that adopting parts of Islamic Sharia law would help maintain social cohesion.

Better to stop singling one group out for special treatment and worthy of his special thoughts and comments, and just let us all exist as equals…

READ SOME COMMENTS:

He must resign as he is so not fit for public office. Thoughtless comments by a public figure once again shows his true colours.
Tim, Gran Canaria ,Spain

I think this is to be expected from an Archbishop who no longer believes in the religion he is the head of. Dr Williams is a good man who means well, but should step down and let someone with a greater belief in his actions take charge.
Richard, Exeter

The Archbishop said: ‘we have to “face up to the fact” that some of its citizens do not relate to the British legal system’. It is very disconcerting 1) that he cannot see the contradiction: one is a ‘citizen’ ONLY when subject to the law of the land; 2) thereby proves incompetence for speaking out of place, as politician rather than champion of his Christian values; 3) indeed, forsakes duty not extolling the christian humanism that is misrecognised bedrock of all western tolerance and reason.
m dury, London

I can’t believe what I am hearing especially from the leader of the Christian church in this country
Tony May, Petersfield Hants

Over my dead body!
This is a despicable thing to say and as far as I’m concerned is tantamount to treason!
[Spiritflier], Holywell, United Kingdom

The Muslims I know are quite horrified by these comments by the Arch Bishop and said he obviously does not understand what he is asking for and THEY would not want this extreme legal system in any form in the UK.
What is the matter with this country? We are the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and hopefuly will always remain. So either we have British Law for all or you get anarchy… if you don’t like our laws, move!
Lee Simm, Romford, United Kingdom

I don’t even live in the UK and this upset me a little. It’s just the principle of it all. If you want Sharia Law then move to Iran, or Sudan, or anywhere else Sharia Law is the norm. Secular Law is just that-Secular Law. If you want to get a divorce according to the laws of Sharia then you shouldn’t have gotten married in Britain. It’s stuff like this that really make me wonder when the civil unrest is gonig to start in Britain.
[discomustache], Chicago, United States

If people want Sharia law, let them move to / go back to whatever country has sharia law. this is the UK, and anybody in the UK should live by our laws. Im sick of this political correctness which seems to be eating away at the heart of british society. Just look at the immigration/emmigration rates. we are the soft touch of the western world. pretty soon the british white person will be the minority in his own country.
kevin, wirral

If I were living in a Muslim country would that country be tolerant towards any of my British ‘ideals’ ,’religion’ or laws?
The answer is ‘NO’
If people from different cultures want to come to make their lives in the UK, they must accept the British laws .
If they want to practice their own religion then that is their absolute right as long as it is at their own cost where any costs are involved.
As far as the British laws are concerned they should be subject to the laws of the UK.
[marabray], Canada

Hi,

Well if you going to accommodate the Muslims. Then I would also like Hindu’ and Sikh’s laws in the british legal system as well, as I am Hindu and wife is Sikh.

Why aren’t our Indian faith’s respected as much? Is that because we don’t go around blowing up innocent random people? Is this how you get what you want these days?

If Muslim doesn’t like British laws then should not LIVE IN THIS COUNTRY!!!!! Please go live where you have your Islamic law and be happy. LEAVE US ALONE.
Aman Sharma

I don’t see why not. Obviously it doesn’t mean stoning people in the streets, it would simply be stuff like divorces etc, if that’s how you want to practise divorce. We have christian law here in many respects and a very christian culture yet most the people in the country aren’t christian. Some Muslims already have Sharia law style divorces and marriages for ceremony and then have to have a christian one in a registry office to be legal and official anyway. Everyone is over-reacting here.
Liam Hanley, nottingham

This is an absolute outrage.
Who does this man think he is?
He should resign now.
His supposed to represent the ‘established’ christian church in what is still supposed to be a christian country.
It quite frankly beggars belief that this ‘wolley headed’ idiot can come out with such a proposterous proposition.
I hope the Church of England, of whom I am still nominally a member, is really pleased with itself.
Just go now Williams and leave the keys to Lambeth Palace in the door as you leave.
Anthony Jeffrey

Your thoughts, please…

Posted: 7th, February 2008 | In: War On Terror. Follow the Comments on our RSS feed: RSS 2.0