Raeside Chisholm Solicitors

The directors of Raeside Chisholm are experienced solicitors who enjoy a deserved reputation in Glasgow and beyond for personal attention allied to a commitment to outstanding levels of quality legal services. For enquiries, please contact us on 0141 248 3456.

Landmark divorce ruling recognises Sharia law

A British court has recognised Sharia law for the first time after a judge made a landmark divorce ruling which could change the way Islamic marriage and divorce works in the UK.

Nasreen Akhter and Mohammed Shabaz Khan had married 20 years ago but only according to Sharia law and not according to British civil law.

Sharia law acts as a religious code for Muslims including matters such as marriage, divorce and financial affairs. An Islamic scholar, or a panel of scholars, hears evidence from both sides before handing down a ruling, which has no legal status.

The High Court ruled that the couple’s Islamic faith marriage conducted in a ceremony called Nikah falls under British matrimonial law despite it not being legally recognised. This means that Mrs Akhtar will be free to bring her case to the divorce court and claim a share of the marital assets where she would previously not have been able to.

Earlier this year, a report revealed that many women in Islamic marriages are unaware they have no legal protection under UK law unless they have a second civil ceremony alongside the Nikah.

The case could have significant implications for women who marry under Sharia law but not UK law. It could give them the right to divorce their husbands, split assets related to the union and divorce more easily.

Contact us

For expert legal advice on divorce and separation, including financial arrangements contact our specialist family lawyers today.

New Corporate Governance Reporting Requirements fo...
Overseas owners of UK property forced to reveal tr...

By accepting you will be accessing a service provided by a third-party external to https://www.raesidechisholm.co.uk/

Online Enquiry

  1. Name(*)
    Please let us know your name.
  2. Email(*)
    Please let us know your email address.
  3. Daytime Tel. No.
    Please enter your daytime telephone number.
  4. Subject(*)
    Please write a subject for your message.
  1. Invalid Input
  2. Message(*)
    Please let us know your message.

Latest News

20 December 2023
Legal Services for the Elderly
Navigating the complexities of inheritance law is essential for providing clarity and peace of mind. In this guide, we'll shed light on the specificities of spousal inheritance. Does a Spouse Automatically Inherit Everything in Scotland with a Will? ...
30 November 2023
Family Law
Navigating the legal landscape can be complex, and one area that often raises questions is the concept of cohabiting relationships. Understanding the legal implications of cohabitation is essential. What is the Meaning of a Cohabiting Relationship? A...
31 October 2023
Estate Agency
When it comes to purchasing a property in Scotland, it's important to understand the intricacies of the tax system. One common question that arises is whether first-time buyers are required to pay stamp duty. In this guide, we will delve into the top...
12 June 2023
Estate Agency
New data from TSB shows that, in Scotland, first-time buyers paid less for a deposit from January to March than in the last three months of 2022. Analysis has found that average deposits for first-time buyers in Scotland decreased to £31,261 in the f...
23 May 2023
Legal Services for the Elderly
There may come a point as we age when we lose our marbles. By that, we mean that we lose what attorneys refer to as our mental capacity to make decisions about our finances and physical well-being. We generally take that for granted in our daily live...
19 May 2023
Estate Agency
Obviously at this crucial stage, every little bit can help when you are faced with finding a deposit, removal costs, and legal fees, to say nothing of furnishing and decorating your new home! One of the important ways that you can get “money for noth...

As featured in