It has been alleged that a top sharia court is “sabotaging” criminal proceedings to protect perpetrators of domestic violence committed against women. The Muslim Arbitration Tribunal (Mat) based in Nuneaton, Warwickshire is among the most influential of 80 Islamic “councils” in Britain.
The Mat rules on disputes among Muslim communities and according to its website, makes submissions to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) to “reconsider” criminal charges of men accused of domestic violence.
In 20028 the Sunday Times reported that the Muslim Arbitration Tribunal got involved in the six cases regarding domestic violence. They ordered the six men to take anger management classes and seek mentoring from community elders, with no further punishment given. The women in all the cases later withdrew their police complaints.
Evidence given to the home affairs select committee by the Southall Black Sisters, a non-organisation which helps vulnerable women, describes the practice as an “attempt to sabotage criminal proceedings.” In the evidence, they say : “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 former director of public prosecutions Lord Macdonald said : “When a formal criminal charge is laid it is not appropriate for an extrajudicial institution to bring the victim and her alleged attacker together to seek a ‘resolution’ beyond the control of UK courts and certainly not where that institution itself has a questionable approach to the rights of women and their supposed place in society.”
The CPS said: “Cases are kept under constant review and we discontinue proceedings if the evidence is no longer sufficient to provide a prosecution.
