THIS a copy of an email sent to Neil Carmichael on October 2.

On July 31, 2001, the European Court of Human Rights judged that ‘the institution of Sharia Law was incompatible with the requirements of a democratic society'.

This ban was upheld by the ECofHR on February 13, 2003.

The Court found that, ‘a Sharia-based regime was incompatible with the Convention, in particular, as regards the rules of criminal law and procedure, the place given to women in the legal order and its interference in all spheres of private and public life in accordance with religious precepts.’ On March 23, 2015, The National Secular Society welcomed an announcement from Home Secretary, Theresa May, that a future Conservative government would launch a review into so-called ‘Sharia courts’ operating in the UK.

The Home Secretary also criticised ‘self-appointed and unrepresentative community leaders’ and said that the government should engage with people ‘directly’ and through elected representatives, rather than through self-appointed leadership figures.

The NSS has been supporting the Arbitration & Mediation Services (Equality) Bill, sponsored by cross-bench Baroness Cox, which would make arbitration services in the UK subject to equality laws and make it a criminal offence for a Sharia tribunal to claim to have legal jurisdiction over criminal or family law.

On March 24, 2015, the London Mayor, Boris Johnson, branded Sharia Law in the UK as ‘absolutely unacceptable’ as he took a swipe at clerics from the Church of England for supporting the Muslim legal code.

Speaking on LBC radio, Mr Johnson said a Sharia system should not even be allowed to preside over civil cases, such as those involving family disputes.

Perhaps Mr Carmichael could then explain to us all why there are still an estimated 80-85 (Baroness Cox) Sharia Courts operating in Britain today?

Ian Martin

Rodborough