06 August 2013

Tories for Sharia - oh, and Enoch

.... And our banks are adapting to sharia by offering products which do not charge interest or make investments in alcohol, gambling or pornography. Indeed, Barclays, RBS and Lloyds Banking Group have all established subsidiary companies specifically for Muslim clients. There is nothing intrinsically wrong with this: one may argue that it simply market provision.

Except that the increasing acceptability of sharia finance has the effect of legitimising other aspects of sharia law. How long before whole areas of cities are alcohol-free? Or the public advertising of women's underwear is banned? Or certain books are taken off the shelf because they offend? Or schools and restaurants serve everyone with halal meat?

How long before the non-Muslim population finds itself complying with sharia law, whether they like it or not?

Thankfully, the Ukip statement above is unequivocal: Nigel Farage rejects sharia law, presumably in its entirety.

Despite the rhetoric, David Cameron clearly supports aspects of it: there are Tories for sharia.

[Archbishop Cranmer] Read more