Women Living Under Shariah Law – Part Two – Choice and Transparency

Abstract

This article is the second in a two part series that examines the relationship between shariah law and English law. It explores how far English Law currently accommodates Islamic principles in relation to marriage and divorce and considers the impact of shariah law on women. The article points out that private customs relating to marriage and divorce typically disadvantage women, since they are often discriminatory and authoritarian. It concludes by indicating that in order to encourage women to assert their autonomy, investment in resources is required to improve their knowledge of the relevant laws, both secular and religious. The transparency provided by accurate and readily available information is a necessary preliminary to choice.