THE SYDNEY MORNING HERALD: THE Federal Government has ruled out the introduction of Islamic courts in Australia following debate triggered by the global head of the Anglican Church.
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, said Muslims should to be able to resolve marital and financial disputes under Islamic law, rather than the mainstream judicial system.
This could help improve social cohesion, he said in a radio interview in Britain. Australian Muslim leaders put a similar proposal to the Howard government in April 2005, but it was rejected.
Yesterday the Attorney-General, Robert McClelland, also ruled out introducing Islamic law, or sharia. "The Rudd Government is not considering and will not consider the introduction of any part of sharia law into the Australian legal system," he said.
The Opposition Leader, Brendan Nelson, said everyone who came to Australia should accept the existing laws.
"Now this is a ham sandwich to a crocodile," he said. "The idea that in some way you would change your basic values, culture and law to accommodate some people who feel that they don't want to see themselves as Australians first, above all else - under no circumstances would I support that." Australia rejects call for Islamic courts >>>
Mark Alexander (Paperback)
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