Sharia in the UK?

The Arch-freakin’-Bishop of Canterbury* is saying that sharia law in the UK is inevitable? Holy-effin’-moly! Where’s your convictions man? I’m nearly (but not quite) struck speechless.

In one breath the Archbishop says

Nobody in their right mind would want to see in this country the kind of inhumanity that has sometimes been associated with the practice of the law in some Islamic states: the extreme punishments, the attitudes to women,”

Well, yes, I would certainly agree with that. But then he goes on to say:

“But there are ways of looking at marital disputes, for example, which provide an alternative to the divorce courts as we understand them.”

Arrrrgggggggghhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (Sorry I couldn’t come up with something more eloquent, but I did say I was nearly struck dumb with the stupidity of it all.)

Doesn’t he get it? Doesn’t he understand? Enforcing sharia based decisions in matters of family law – and especially in matters of divorce – is exactly what underlines the barbaric attitudes to women.

There’s nothing to stop two parties coming to an agreement based on sharia and abiding by it under current UK law. Women – in case of separation, do you want to hand over custody of your children? Do you want to have a “mosque-based” marriage in which you have no rights when it comes to property? Hey, fine by me. Do what you want.

But no way, no how should British courts be enforcing such decisions or routing women of Muslim origin into sharia based civil court hearings. That’s what a tandem system of sharia law for Muslims would mean.

It’s wrong.

Equality before the law. One law for everyone. We may not always get it, but we must always , always aspire to it.

_________
*head honcho bishop in the Church of England

UPDATE: At Harry’s Place, just as one would have expected there’s a discussion about this. They call for the sacking of the Archbishop and the disestablishment of the Church of England. No need. When the head of the CoE calls for sharia law – the church done been disestablished.

the lights are going out all over Europe

When I quit smoking last autumn, I promised myself a last smoke in June. See at the end of this month, it’s the end of indoor smoking in England. I thought I’d have about a six week old baby and that I would be pretty much fighting fit again after my lovely tranquil home birth. Not so much. I thought I could sneak off to the pub – swish down a cheeky half and smoke one lovely, last Marlboro Red in salute to the end of public smoking, as we knew it, in England.

I want that last smoke.

But I’m still feeling under the weather. I’m nearly as bad as I was in the days after my release from the hospital. Though better than I was at the weekend. I managed to walk to the drugstore today – accompanied by the Vol-in-Law. And you know, the drugstore is just about the same distance as to my local pub.

how to hack off two major interest groups

If there’s one thing that the Brits like, it’s animals. Especially cute fluffy animals, but all animals really. They take animal cruelty seriously. In fact, only recently, tough new laws on animal care have come into force. And since the rather heavy handed Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) will be the ones knocking down my door if its revealed that I don’t take good enough care of my cats, this actually strikes a little fear in my heart. It’s not enough just not to beat the critters, you’ve got to provide a good standard of care now if you take on animal ownership.

There’s another charity, too. Not nearly as popular, but still well known – the NSPCC – the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children. They can’t take your kids away, fine you or put you in jail (like the RSPCA) but they can rat on you to social services, who can. The NSPCC is famous for adds that tug at the old heart strings – like a sad-eyed, quiet toddler and a voice-over “Mikey is quiet because he’s learned that nobody comes when he cries.” (Hmm – is there a book with tips?) Or ads that try to encourage parents to stop and think about their behaviour before it becomes abuse. Although, one of their campaigns last summer featured a 10 year old boy, repeatedly kicking a ball against a holiday caravan (vacation trailer home – yeah, I know, Brits like the strangest things) and the mum, who is washing up inside while dad reads the paper – and then finally she goes out there and yells at kid. Oh no!!! She yells at him. But she looks lower class and her voice is shrill and quite angry, so it must be verbal abuse. (If you ask me, the little blighter had it coming.)

Anyway, with this photo (an update to this post about baby sweaters) I’m courting disapproval from both lobbies.

Other Cat has learned that nobody comes when she meows.

And yes, I will put that sweater on baby Cletus.

A spouse is for life

The law of the land…marriage is between one man and one woman. I saw this in the Merton Registrar’s office. I guess this is part of the reason that civil partnerships were set up for homosexual couples, I suppose it was just too hard to mess with the statute law.

Presumably in the very same room where this sign is so prominently posted civil partnership ceremonies take place.

I’ve said it before. I’m in favour of gay marriage. I disapprove of civil partnerships as I think they’re a squishy compromise that undermines the institution of marriage by encouraging chatterati heterosexual “partners” to create a committment contract-lite. I simply do not understand why people with kids and mortgages are still shy of the registrar.