AUSTRALIA SAYS NO!..TO SHARIA LAW...NOT IN AUSTRALIA!

Roxon says no....No role for sharia law by Australian Muslims

• BY:PATRICIA KARVELAS 
• From:The Australian 
• March 17, 2012 12:00AM  Edited by S W T Read

ATTORNEY-GENERAL Nicola Roxon has weighed in on the use of sharia by Australian Muslims to write wills, declaring there is no place for Islamic law in Australia to settle family issues or anything else.

Muslim leaders have defended the use of Islamic law in Australia, particularly in the execution of wills that favour sons over daughters, arguing that Australian courts should respect the religious wishes of Islamic citizens.

It is only if the use of sharia is challenged that the courts are able to exert Australian legal values. It is understood many Muslims informally make provisions using sharia, but there is no way of quantifying how widespread the practice is in Australia.

"There is no place for sharia law in Australian society and the government strongly rejects any proposal for its introduction, including in relation to wills and succession," Ms Roxon said.

"The Australian government is committed to protecting the right of all people to practise their religion without intimidation or harassment, but always within the framework of Australian law."

A bitter dispute between siblings came before the ACT Supreme Court in Canberra last week, when a daughter of a devout Muslim woman demanded she receive the same inheritance as her brothers.