Contact: Loralei Coyle, 202-682-4131, 202-905-6852 cell, lcoyle@TheIRD.org; Radio Interviews: Jeff Walton, jwalton@TheIRD.org; both with the Institute on Religion and Democracy

WASHINGTON, Feb. 12 /Christian Newswire/ -- Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams clarified his highly controversial remarks made on shari'a law in an address made to the Church of England's General Synod on Monday, February 11. Williams apologized for previously making any unclear statements and set his remarks in a larger context. He argued that the British government must address how people of faith in an age of religious pluralism can stay true to their religious beliefs while remaining good citizens of the United Kingdom. He found troubling the possibility that an increasingly secular society might require people of faith to go against their religiously-informed consciences.

Against the backdrop of this larger concern, the archbishop advocated that the government needs to consider whether Muslims should be able to follow some aspects of shari'a law that do not infringe upon other rights of British citizenship, such as women's' rights. "[M]any Muslim majority countries do distinguish clearly between the rights of citizens overall and the duties accepted by some citizens of obedience to Islamic law," Williams asserted. "It is this that encourages me to think that there may be ways of engaging with the world of Islamic law on something other than an all-or-nothing basis."

IRD Director of Anglican Action Ralph Webb commented:

"Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams is right to express concern over how religious freedom for all people of faith—whether Christians, Muslims, or adherents of any other religion—can best be protected in Western secular societies. But in this case he has downplayed the real-life concerns and experiences of Christians and others persecuted under shari'a law in non-Western nations.

"Many Anglicans of the Global South have found that shari'a law, even if initially implemented in part, will lead to atrocities as the law expands. Archbishop Ben Kwashi of the Diocese of Jos in Nigeria, recounting what has happened in several northern Nigeria states, recently said in a BBC News interview that any partial implementation of shari'a law inevitably will lead to complete shari'a law.

"Will Williams' statements compromise his ability to speak on behalf of those persecuted under shari'a law? Even comments related to incorporating shari'a law into British law may well hurt those in other parts of the world for whom persecution is a very real part of their existence."