Via Daily Mail:

A top sharia court has been accused of using its position to ‘sabotage’ criminal charges brought against men accused of domestic violence.

The Muslim Arbitration Tribunal (Mat), based in Nuneaton, Warwickshire, was set up in 2007 to help resolve civil and family disputes in accordance with Islamic law.

According to the Mat website, the body cannot deal with criminal offences, but ‘where there are criminal charges such as assault within the context of domestic violence, the parties can ask Mat to assist in reaching reconciliation.

‘The terms of such a reconciliation can then be passed on to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS)  through the local Police Domestic Violence Liaison Officers with a view to reconsidering the criminal charges.’

But Southall Black Sisters, a women’s rights group, argues that Mat is effectively ‘sabotaging criminal proceedings’ against men accused of domestic violence by asking the CPS to ‘reconsider’ any charges.

As part of written evidence submitted to a home affairs inquiry launched in July into sharia courts, the Southall Black Sisters questioned the role of tribunals like Mat.