Archbishop of Canterbury to discuss Sharia law remarks Monday

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
The archbishop of Canterbury was expected to speak Monday to the Church of England's governing body about his controversial suggestion that Britain's legal system should accommodate aspects of traditional Islamic law. Rowan Williams, the spiritual leader of more than 75 million Anglicans worldwide, triggered a sharp reaction with an interview with British Broadcasting Corp. radio, saying that the implementation of Shariah law in Britain was an inevitable part of achieving social cohesion. Williams suggested that Shariah might have a role in aspects of marital law, regulating financial transactions and resolving conflicts. The comments on radio and in a lengthy lecture to a legal society later Thursday delighted some Muslims, but outraged many other people in Britain, including a few members of the General Synod, the church's governing body, who have called for Williams' resignation.