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Document Details :

Title: The Evolution of Shari'ah Courts in Selected Western European Countries
Author(s): HEINRICH, Margot
Journal: Studies in Interreligious Dialogue
Volume: 23    Issue: 1   Date: 2013   
Pages: 43-58
DOI: 10.2143/SID.23.1.2990728

Abstract :
Today, approximately 15 million Muslims live in the European Union. Therefore, the interaction of people from different cultural and religious backgrounds is one of the main issues in contemporary European society. While the legal systems of western European countries are legitimated by its people through some sort of democratic assembly or legislature, Shari’ah, which means 'the path to the water hole' or 'the path to God’s acceptance', is the system of rules and guidelines for Muslims worldwide. This article tries to outline how the religious needs of people who belong to a tradition that believes that the only source of law is God were dealt with in selected western European countries in the past and what is the current state of art in those countries.

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