Sharia Court Interferes to Protect Muslim Men Accused of Domestic Violence in UK

According to reports, The Muslim Arbitration Tribunal is abusing power in an attempt to persuade the UK Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) to hold off filing criminal charges against Muslim men accused of domestic violence.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) – The Muslim Arbitration Tribunal (MAT) is abusing power in an attempt to persuade the UK Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) to hold off filing criminal charges against Muslim men accused of domestic violence, the Southall Black Sisters, a group that helps vulnerable women in the United Kingdom, said in a testimony to a House of Commons committee ahead of parliamentary inquiry into Sharia courts, media reported on Monday.

"The Mat actively involves itself in criminal proceedings on domestic violence. It uses its position of power to persuade the CPS to drop charges and to encourage women to reconcile with abusive partners without reference to court orders they may already have or to risk assessments and safety planning," the Southall Black Sisters said, as cited by The Independent.

Important figures from the UK Sharia council along with other witnesses are set to submit their testimonies to the UK parliament this week, following accusations that MAT is interfering on behalf of Muslim men accused of domestic violence, to prevent any charges to be filed against them.

MAT says on its website that it can communicate with the CPS through the local police domestic violence liaison officers in order to reconsider criminal charges, although it points out that the final decision to prosecute always remains with the CPS.

The UK parliamentary inquiry into Sharia courts will commence on Tuesday.