Last week the Times published a report about a judge's decision to allow a request from an Orthodox Jewish couple that a Beth Din court should be allowed to arbitrate in their divorce proceedings. Although the story concerned Jews rather than Muslims, the paper chose to run the report under the front-page headline "High Court opens way to Sharia divorces".

The Muslim Council of Britain, who took the view that the coverage "was sensationalist and would help fuel Islamopobia", wrote a letter to the Times complaining about the report, which was published in the paper today, albeit in an edited version.

The section of the letter that the Times decided to omit read: "Once again such reporting raises uninformed hackles against our faith, and what British Muslims really want. With a recent YouGov poll highlighting prevailing negative attitudes against British Muslims, there is a responsibility to report such matters fairly."

So the MCB writes a letter to the Times complaining about Islamophobic bias, and the Times publishes it ... minus the section that contains the actual complaint about Islamophobic bias!

Here, via the MCB website, is the full version of the letter:

Dear Sir,

We find it odd that your report of a landmark divorce settlement under Jewish Beth Din Courts should be framed under the narrative of Islamic Sharia courts (High Court opens way to Sharia divorces, 1 February). Once again such reporting raises uninformed hackles against our faith, and what British Muslims really want. With a recent YouGov poll highlighting prevailing negative attitudes against British Muslims, there is a responsibility to report such matters fairly.

Of course, we do welcome any move facilitating choices for those who wish, as Muslims, for their personal relationships to be governed by a Shariah civil code. This legitimate aspiration requires full discussion in an atmosphere of understanding and tolerance. It allows for British Muslims to fulfil their religious obligations under British law. It does not require a change in British law, or a diminution in human rights. We seek parity with other faiths, not special favours.

Yours Sincerely,

Farooq Murad,
Secretary General,
Muslim Council of Britain

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Paris on Tuesday brushed off a US State Department report that criticised France for banning Muslim women from wearing full veils.

"Our conception of secularism is a common heritage of all French people, which implies rules that encourage social harmony in the public space and in public schools," said a foreign ministry spokesman.

In its 2011 International Religious Freedom Report, the State Department complains about a "rising number of European countries, including Belgium and France, whose laws restricting dress adversely affected Muslims and others".

The French spokesman noted that France and its neighbours were seeking to define "more structured European Union policies to defend freedom of religion in the world".

Expatica, 1 August 2012

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