Case Study

Sania's Story: ‘They refused to accept I was in fear of my life’

I applied to the Dewsbury Sharia Council for an Islamic divorce. I was informed that the process takes a maximum of three months. It’s been two years and I still haven’t obtained a Sharia divorce.

During the continued lengthy divorce process, I spoke to the leader of the Sharia Council a number of times over the telephone. On every occasion he was unprofessional and intimidating. They questioned everything that I said to them.

I asked the Sharia Council to contact my UK solicitor who would hand over my legal files and copies of the court orders to the Sharia Council, which would then make them understand why I want a divorce so desperately. They viewed the UK court orders in place to protect me and my children from Janaid as irrelevant when applying for a divorce.

Janaid replied to my application for an Islamic divorce stating that he had been a good father. Janaid stated that he would not give me a divorce as divorce is un-Islamic and is a sin.

The Sharia Council then informed me that I needed to attend the Sharia Council along with Janaid. I informed them that I am not allowed to go anywhere near Janaid, I am in danger of my life, there are a number of injunctions against him prohibiting him from going anywhere near me. This is another example of their blatant disregard for UK court orders and the trauma victims experience having been battered by their husbands. Despite my protests, the Sharia Council arranged a form of mediation for Janaid and me to attend. I did not attend. The Sharia Council refused to accept the fact that I was in fear of my life as a justification for not attending the mediation. I asked whether it would be possible for someone to come to my house. They said, no.

The Sharia Council then insisted that I brought along two Muslim witnesses to attend the Sharia Council with me to confirm that I was telling the truth. However, Janaid did not require any witnesses because he is a man. I did not know any Muslim women who could be witnesses and I didn’t want to get anyone from my community involved.

In total I paid the Sharia Council in Dewsbury £170.