Choosing Sharia?: Multiculturalism, Islamic fundamentalism and Sharia Councils - Softcover

Proponents of multiculturalism do not usually subscribe to Islamist goals. Yet, across Europe, these are being furthered. Sharia councils are deeply at odds with Western moral and legal principles of equality, freedom and justice. But high-profile multiculturalists tend to present a romanticized view of these councils, which obscures both the ideology that motivates them and their practical consequences. Are Sharia councils a legitimate expression of the longing for identity, as multiculturalists claim? What do Islamists really want? And why do multiculturalists find it so difficult to counter their claims?Choosing Sharia? explores the implications of multiculturalism and Islamic fundamentalism. It provides a vivid account of what really goes on inside Sharia councils, and discusses the challenges they pose to liberal democracy. With impressive clarity, this vitally important book offers insight into two ideologies crucial to Europe's future.

Machteld Zee (1984, PhD) is a Dutch political scientist and legal scholar. She has done extensive research in the United Kingdom and was present at hearings of England's most prominent Sharia councils.