Women safe if Shariah allowed in Ontario?

Toronto Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty promises the rights of women will not be compromised if the province allows Muslims to use shariah — Islamic law — to settle civil and marital disputes.

A report by former NDP attorney-general Marion Boyd recommends that Ontario allow Muslims to establish sharia-based tribunals similar to Jewish and Catholic arbitration bodies.

Mr. McGuinty said the Liberal government is reviewing Ms. Boyd's report and will produce its own recommendations "at some point in time."

He says whatever the province does, "it will be in keeping with the values of Ontarians and Canadians."

When asked what he meant by that, McGuinty said people will just have to be patient.

Marches to protest against the possibility of allowing shariah in Ontario are planned this week for cities around the world, including Toronto, Paris, London, Stockholm and Dusseldorf, Germany.

Opponents contend that the push for shariah is part of an extremist Islamic agenda, and they say it discriminates against women in basic matters such as divorce, inheritance rights and child custody.