Includes bibliographical references (pages 285-310) and index.

Cultural diversity and the law -- The spectre of Shari'a -- Part I. Politics and the Muslim family -- Marriage -- Arranged and forced -- Divorce -- "The Muslim woman" and gender relations -- Part II. Baroness Cox's bill -- The bill (2011-14) -- The bill's supporters : Christians and secularists -- Ayes to the right -- For, against, in the middle : Muslims, Jews and others -- Islamophobia? -- Towards constructive dialogue? -- Concluding reflections.

"Contemporary European societies are multi-ethnic and multi-cultural, certainly in terms of the diversity which has stemmed from the immigration of workers and refugees and their settlement. Currently, however, there is widespread, often acrimonious, debate about 'other' cultural and religious beliefs and practices and limits to their accommodation. This book focuses principally on Muslim families, and concerns how gender relations, and associated questions of (women's) agency, consent and autonomy, have become the focus of political and social commentary, with followers of the religion under constant public scrutiny and criticism. In short, Islam generally and the Muslim family in particular have become highly politicized sites of contestation, and the book considers how and why and with what implications for British multiculturalism, past, present and perhaps future. Practices concerning marriage and divorce are especially controversial and the book includes a detailed overview of the public debate about the application of Islamic legal and ethical norms (Shariʹa) in family law matters, and the associated role of Shariʹa councils, in a British context. The study will be of great interest to international scholars and academics researching the governance of diversity and the accommodation of other faiths including Islam"--Unedited summary from book cover.

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