Greece: Sharia ruling
European Centre for Law and Justice / Christian Concern
On 19 December, the Grand Chamber of
the European Court of Human Rights made
a ruling concerning the application of Sharia
law in Europe over inheritance rights.
The court ruled
that a Greek woman
should have her
inheritance dispute
settled by Greek domestic law rather than by
Sharia law. The application of Sharia law
to this case was found to be in violation
of Article 14 of the European Convention
on Human Rights which prohibits discrimination on grounds including sex, race
and religion. The court noted that ‘several
international bodies’ had expressed concern
about the application of Sharia law and the
discrimination created, in particular against
women and children.