Muslim Women and Shari'ah Councils Transcending the Boundaries of Community and Law

by Bano, Samia

• ISBN13: 9780230221482
• ISBN10: 0230221483
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2013-01-08
• Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan

Summary

Using original empirical data and critiquing existing research, Samia Bano explores the experience of British Muslim woman who use Shari'ah councils to resolve marital disputes. She challenges the language of community rights and claims for legal autonomy in matters of family law showing how law and community can empower as well as restrict women.

Author Biography

SAMIA BANO lectures in Family law, Gender and Law and Research Methods in Law at the University of Reading Law school, UK, where she was recently been appointed Deputy Director of Research. Samia is recognized as an international scholar in the field of Muslim family law, multiculturalism and gender discrimination. Before joining the law school at Reading Samia worked as a researcher on a number of projects in the area of legal policy and practice and gender equality.

Table of Contents

PART I: CONTEXT AND BACKGROUND

Multiculturalism and Secularism in the British Context
South Asian Muslims and State Law Relations
Background to the Study
PART II: SHARI'AH COUNCILS AND WOMEN'S EXPERIENCES OF MUSLIM DIVORCE
Shari'ah Councils in Britain
Shari'ah Councils and the Practice of Law-making
Personal Experiences of Marriage
Muslim Women, Divorce and Shari'ah Councils
Shari'ah Councils and Civil law
Conclusion: Justice in the 'Shadow of Law'?