On British Islam

John Bowen, who holds the Chair of the Dunbar-Van Cleve in Arts & Sciences at Washington University in St. Louis, is a prolific writer covering particularly issues about Muslims in the West. This work on Shari[ah Councils is based on the research undertaken by him during the period 2007–13 with the help of a Leverhulme scholarship. He has tried to dispel the very negative and damaging coverage the Shari[ah Councils regularly receive in the Western media. Their adverse portrayal creates unnecessary apprehension and abhorrence among non-Muslims. This study highlights issues and practices surrounding the Shari[ah which is both lauded and denounced more loudly and more often in Britain than anywhere in the West. On the one hand, both Prince Charles and the ex-Archbishop of Canterbury have stated their appreciation of the contribution of Shari[ah law and David Cameron, the British Prime Minister, in 2013 launched an Islamic bond (sukuk) and celebrated his commitment to make London one of the world’s great centres for Shari[ah financing. On the other hand, the British media, the Daily Mail, the Sun and on occasions the Daily Telegraph, are some of the most vehement Islam-bashing media outlets that keep warning of the threat which Shari[ah law poses to Britain (p. 3)....