The problem with Sharia is not that it cannot pronounce good judgements sometimes. Not more than 50 years ago, a Priest or minister was a good adjudicator for neighborly squabbles.

The problem is that there are sharia based penalties that are abhorrent, as well as the fundamental aspects of that system of rules that disadvantages non-believers and women, criminalizes victims, and penalizes victimless social behaviors that are perfectly legal in the common law. It has no provisions of rupholding human rights and has no institution of precident, so sentences can be arbitrary - at the whim of the presiding judge.

You got off easy. Other Westerners have been beheaded for much less.

Ethan, Tampa, FL, USA

I am deeply disappointed by the reaction to Rowan William's remarks. He is a deeply thoughtful and intellectual character and, although I am a muslim, I have far more respect for him than I do for most muslim leaders in the UK.

The reaction to his comments, and particularly the diabolical reaction from leading politicians, underscores the paranoia surrounding Islam. Rowan Williams didn't say Islamic Sharia should replace or circumvent the British justice system in any way, shape or form. Only that in certain social disputes or, perhaps, in dealing with relatively petty offences, Sharia offers a form of social arbitration that could afford an alternative to the court system. The Jewish community already has similar institutions, and no politician has ever complained that they are a threat to the British way of life.

I feel most hurt by the very personal nature of the attacks on Rowan Williams. The man is a great leader of the Church - he doesn't deserve such treatment.

Haroon Abbasi, London,

The suggestion that sharia law should be adopted in this country, even if limited, is ridiculous! People who come to this country should be expected to live by our rules. If I went to a Muslim country, can I have any legal issue that may arise dealt with under British law? I think not!
The archbishop of Canterbury should resign, the introduction of sharia law will not help social cohesion but rip our communities apart. If this country continues on the path we are on it will not be too far in the future before we see troops in the streets and barricades between communities - as in Northern Ireland. Somethimg needs to be done to stop this country self distructing.

Pamela, Accrington, England!

How concerned these westerners are for women! They have fake concern for Muslim women while there are women for sale like cattle in glass displays in Europe. That is modern day slavery. It is also OK for US and their allies to bomb these same Muslim women. What hypocracy!

What about child trafficking i.e. selling and buying of children (eg. Zoe's ark)? American shelter's are full of women that are abused so doctor heal thyself!

Mohamed Hussein

Mohamed Hussein, Mogadishu, Somalia

Somalia was better off under islamic court, and these people could walk safely in the notorious Bakara market. Look over a year after the Islamic Court was driven , it ended up as the world`s most catastrophic country.

This is what the main stream muslims want, and it the perception that most of teh people have about sharia which means nothing but Law is a flawed one.

Most of the comments focus on women persecution..ironically the most of the supporters to the Isalmic court were women. they saved them from rampant rapers, and that simple.What is wrong if I choose sharia while I have the secular option. Are not we free, after all ?

Haq, Adis Abeba, Ethiopia

These comments would find more favour if the report came from a Martine Fletcher, rather than Martin.

robert everitt, wolverhampton,

This is not an argument for incorporating Sharia law into English law. It is simply an argument for making the judicial process more efficient at the first instance by streamlining the bureaucratic process. I do not think anyone would be against this. Mr Fletcher, respectfully, you have provided a procedural solution to what is fundamentally a substantive question.

George Mackenzie, Oxford, UK

Such a pathetic tale of two people arguing ending up in court because they can't sort it out for themselves demonstrates why sharia law is a disaster - what right have self-appointed judges got to drag people off and use up their whole day on such nonsense?

In this country the police would simply have moved one and all would have gone on their way without such drastic and self-important intervention.

Dominic Stockford, Teddington, London,

Martin, to say that your situation is comparible with the general application of Sharia Law is very misleading. From your description of your experience in Somalia, it appears that the Sharia Court was nothing more than a kangaroo Court. If applied more widely, the conduct of that Court system would not dispense justice when applied to more complex cases typically encountered in the Western Courts. Your described Sharia Court would have limited application in local neighbourhood (low level) disputes and has no further reliable application.

John, London, UK

he must consider settling down to a peacful life in somalia.

rajan mathew, BIRMINGHAM, united kingdom

When Sharia is permitted, the lack of transparency and appeal will inevitably result in cruel and awful injustices, particularly to women who are forced into a Sharia court. How does a woman stand a chance of being heard in such a circumstance? How can her physical safety be ensured? Does the term 'kangaroo court' come to mind?

To be a woman under Islam is tantamount to slavery -- but we are supposed to believe that the masters will treat the slaves fairly and kindly. Why do we tolerate this, and in the Archbishop's case, *encourage* it?

Jack, California, USA

If this had happended in my country Norway, the police would have seen to it that one of the drivers backed off, that they then were both on their way, and that would be that.

No need for sharia laws here, thank you very much.
I think we all now what they are like, this sweet incident not
withstanding. And what if one of the drivers was a woman, if her hair was not properly covered, and she was even in the
compny of a man? What if----I could go on and on--.

L. Smith-Hald, Oslo, Norway

Nonsense. Your problem did not belong in a court in the first place. The drug dealer was being punished before his trial (and of course, we know without asking how the court decided his case.). "Domestic disputes" do not belong in court either. What you desribe as 'fair" is a combination of a kangaroo court and a talk show.

George Tirebiter, Austin, Texas,

And what would have happened, if you had been a WOMAN? - Driving around - perhaps even with a man to whom you are not married, perhaps even not properly attired - I bet it would not have been such a "switft brush" then....

Adrian, London, UK

Is this real? Is this guy really trying to pass this off as a story or at all indicative of what Sharia Law would look like in England. This is a joke.

Ado, Topeka, Kansas

If Sharia was so good why did it require a court to decide a simple traffic rule?

Sharia in any of its illogical forms is no way to run a country let alone a society. A whole court process to decide who drives on which side of the road is bordering on silly bureaucracy and a clear indication of how quickly a molehill of a matter can be made into a moutain in a largely illiterate and hysterical society - which is precisely the opposite of what our legal system and system of civil society attempts to create.

The extreme elements of sharia of course, are beyond words and way beyond reason.

greykangaroo, Sydney, Australia

This article is totally misleading and flimsy.Shame on you Martin Fletcher for trying to mislead the public by this one stray incident.
Let me share a tue story. In 2005 I was based in United Arab Emirates- a modern islamic state .In the emirate of Fujairah a 16 year old girl ( a mere child) was sentenced to 60 lashes despite being sexualy attacked by a 45 year old just because she had knowingly /unknowingly consumed alcohol with him.
I have seen young men whipped and amputated in Sudan.I have seen the testimony of 1 woman being determined to be one-fourth of a man -leaving her rapist scot free. sharia law openly allows violence to wives and other women in the family.

Sharia law is violent & brutal.Like any other system it may have good points but I can personally assure you terms like 'mercy' and 'reform' are totally absent.

JAMAL NASSER, PLYMOUTH, UK

I think this article makes the case for the Archbishop admirably. The fact that Fletcher describes a case of low level importance is exactly the point: Rowan Williams was not proposing the use of Sharia Law for murder cases but rather for low level domestic and marital disputes. I am a Christian and I have no problem with that.

Johnny Fiston-Hewes, London, UK

As one who has been hauled in front of a Sharia court I would like to risk having my hand — or head — chopped off a second time by suggesting that the Archbishop of Canterbury just might have a point.

The defence of evil is worse than evil...so you got off cheap... HOW MUCH WAS IT ... get ye hence among your own kind.

Hugh E Torrance, London, England

How can you say on the basis of such a trivial incident 'My brush with Shia law was swift and fair' as a headline in an international newspaper ?

Barrie, Brussels,

"I would not have liked to be the drug dealer. I would not like to appear before a Sharia court for adultery or murder, or before a Sharia court in some of the world's more extreme Islamic states. But in this instance the court performed its duty with admirable dispatch and minimal fuss and everyone went away happy. It was quicker, cheaper and just as effective as a British magistrates' court."

So in other words, the death penalty and birching works and jailing/rehabilitation and social work is an expensive waste of time. Why don't you say so directly instead of resorting to hiding behind sharia?

Btw, don't confuse the punishments with the reasoning.

Cinnamon, London,