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Using original empirical data and critiquing existing research, Samia Bano explores the experience of British Muslim woman who use Shari´ah councils to resolve marital disputes. She challenges the language of community rights and claims for legal autonomy in matters of family law showing how law and community can empower as well as restrict women.

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PART I: CONTEXT AND BACKGROUND Multiculturalism and Secularism in the British Context South Asian Muslims and State Law Relations Background to the Study PART II: SHARI´AH COUNCILS AND WOMEN´S EXPERIENCES OF MUSLIM DIVORCE Shari´ah Councils in Britain Shari´ah Councils and the Practice of Law-making Personal Experiences of Marriage Muslim Women, Divorce and Shari´ah Councils Shari´ah Councils and Civil law Conclusion: Justice in the ´Shadow of Law´?

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SAMIA BANO lectures in Family law, Gender and Law and Research Methods in Law at the University of Reading Law school, UK, where she was recently been appointed Deputy Director of Research. Samia is recognized as an international scholar in the field of Muslim family law, multiculturalism and gender discrimination. Before joining the law school at Reading Samia worked as a researcher on a number of projects in the area of legal policy and practice and gender equality.

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