SHARIA COUNCILS AND WOMEN’S RIGHTS: NAVIGATING FAITH-BASED ARBITRATION IN THE UK AND PAKISTAN

Abstract

Sharia Councils in the UK and Pakistan represent parallel yet contextually distinct models of faith-based arbitration. While in Pakistan, they function within an officially Islamic legal framework, in the UK they operate as informal tribunals within a secular legal system. This article critically examines how these councils impact Muslim women’s rights, particularly in areas such as marriage, divorce, and custody. Drawing on comparative qualitative data, legal texts, and interviews with scholars and practitioners, the research explores the intersections of religious authority, legal pluralism, and gender justice. It evaluates whether Sharia Councils empower or disempower women and to what extent they align with international human rights norms. The study highlights significant challenges—such as lack of state oversight in the UK and patriarchal legal interpretations in Pakistan—but also emerging reformist discourses that center women’s agency. Ultimately, this research contributes to broader debates on multiculturalism, religious freedom, and gender equality in Muslim contexts.