Outraged MPs demanded action last night as it emerged that a Government jobs site is advertising a role in a sharia court.
They insisted that the British state should not be promoting the separate justice system based on Islamic law.
And they urged the Department for Work and Pensions to remove the online posting for the £23,500-a-year administrative role.
It comes after an investigation found Britain has become the western capital for sharia courts – with up to 85 operating here, offering religious rulings on marriage and divorce even though they are not legally recognised.
Independent MP Rupert Lowe wrote in a letter to Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall: ‘I am writing to express my absolute alarm and disgust that the Department for Work and Pensions “Find a Job” platform is currently advertising for a “Sharia Law Administrator”.
‘The requirements include a degree in sharia law and experience in sharia courts in Muslim countries.
‘The DWP is promoting and facilitating the embedding of a parallel legal system in the United Kingdom.
‘Sharia law has no place operating as a recognised legal framework within our country. It is fundamentally incompatible with British law, and our very way of life.’
Outraged MPs demanded action last night as it emerged that a Government jobs site is advertising a role in a sharia court. Pictured: File photo of a sharia court in Banda Aceh, Indonesia
They insisted that the British state should not be promoting the separate justice system based on Islamic law. Pictured; File photo of a Sharia court in east London
Independent MP Rupert Lowe (pictured earlier this year) wrote in a letter to Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall: ‘I am writing to express my absolute alarm and disgust that the Department for Work and Pensions “Find a Job” platform is currently advertising for a “Sharia Law Administrator”‘
Mr Lowe demanded to know who approved the job posting and urged the department to immediately remove it.
Reform’s Zia Yusuf also wrote on social media: ‘There is only one legal system in the UK. Any attempt to upend or replace it should be illegal.’
While party leader Nigel Farage claimed: ‘Our country and its values are being destroyed.’
And Tory MP Peter Bedford said: ‘I would be aghast if a politician signed off allowing recruitment for this type of role.
‘I suspect, once again, this is the out-of-control civil service creating and implementing policy contrary to democratic authority. This must stop.’
The advert posted on the DWP’s Find A Job website on Thursday was for a ‘Sharia Law Administrator’ at Manchester Community Centre based in Didsbury.
It requested an individual to ‘provide all admin and secretarial work for Manchester Sharia Council’ including to ‘plan, manage, organise and oversee all MSC social and sharia services and activities on a day to day basis’.
Candidates needed a degree in sharia law along with ‘previous working experience in sharia law-related fields and/or sharia courts in Muslim countries’.
Mr Lowe demanded to know who approved the job posting and urged the department to immediately remove it. Pictured: File photo of a sharia court in east London
‘Boundary-setting’ was an essential skill, with the ad stating: ‘The nature of the work means it is easy to get emotionally involved in certain cases.
‘Setting boundaries ensures professional lines are not crossed…’
A DWP spokesman said: ‘This is a position being advertised on the Find A Job portal by an independent registered charity and is not within DWP.
‘Find A Job is a free platform to help jobseekers find vacancies with employers from various sectors.’
