Together with other bodies which have been lobbying on the Law Society guidance on Sharia compliant wills, the British Humanist Association (BHA) has received a letter from the Law Society saying that they have now withdrawn the guidance and have no plans to amend or replace the note.
Since the original guidance was published the BHA met with the Law Society Chief Executive to raise serious concerns, after which a revised version of the guidance was sent to the BHA for comment. Seeing no significant changes the BHA responded that they would not support the existing or proposed practice notes and the BHA has welcomed the withdrawal of the guidance.
Andrew Copson, Chief Executive of the BHA commented ‘We are pleased that the Law Society has finally decided to withdraw the practice note. Whilst we fully respect the right of all individuals to make provisions in their wills in accordance with whatever wishes they have, be they influenced by their religious beliefs of not, the Law Society were wrong in publishing a document giving such a conservative, narrow, and exclusive interpretation of a particular form of Islam. The reality is that it would not have been helpful at all to the solicitors they claim called for such a practice note.
‘Having met the Law Society and made our views clear we were then presented with a slightly altered version of the guidance, one which we clearly could not support and informed the Law Society of this. We are pleased that they have now taken the decision to withdraw their deeply flawed guidance.’
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For further comment or information, please contact BHA Chief Executive Andrew Copson on andrew@humanists.uk 020 3675 0959.
The British Humanist Association is the national charity working on behalf of non-religious people who seek to live ethical and fulfilling lives on the basis of reason and humanity. It promotes a secular state and equal treatment in law and policy of everyone, regardless of religion or belief.