Uganda has proposed a bill that would establish Sharia courts nationwide, igniting concern over religious conversion rights, child custody protections and forced Islamic marriages.
At the end of February, The Uganda Gazette, an official Ugandan government publication, issued notice of the measure known as the Qadhis Courts Bill. The bill proposes that matters regarding marriage, divorce, custody and inheritance for all Muslim marriages, as well as Christians and other non-Muslim members in some circumstances, are under the power of Qadhis courts.
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Under the system, Christians and other non-Muslims would not be able to seek justice in the civil court system in a custody, family, or inheritance dispute that involves a Muslim in a lawsuit within the Qadhis courts.
Decisions of the Qadhis courts can be appealed to the High Court of Uganda, but such appeals must be heard by a Muslim judge and four Muslim scholars, which would finalize a decision.
Arthur Ayorekire, the vice president of the Uganda Christian Lawyers’ Fraternity, explained the concerns spreading across Christian communities.
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EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was written by Hannah Davis and originally published by Decision Magazine. Used with permission.
