Divorce sharia style

Description

From a terraced house in East London the Sharia Council presides over hundreds of cases every year, mainly marital disputes. The Sharia Council is a parallel legal system that remains unknown to many people, although it has existed for years. This documentary takes us inside the workings of Sharia law in a Western society, especially as it affects women seeking divorce. What can the Muslim legal system offer couples in conflict? Presiding over the court are two Sheikhs who are both respected members of the Muslim community with an intimate knowledge of Islamic law. Their rulings are not recognized by British law but for the Muslim community their judgments carry the word of God. In one case, we meet Imran who approaches the Sharia court for a ruling or "fatwa" that he believes can save his marriage to Nasira. Imran had married a second wife in Pakistan, whereupon Nasira left him and taken their three children to another city. It is now up to the court to decide what the future will be for this unhappy couple.

Runtime

49 min

Subjects

Geography

Genre

Date of Publication

2008

Database

Alexander Street

Direct Link