Overview

• The job advert for a “Sharia Law Administrator” offering £23,500 per year was removed from the DWP’s Find a Job platform on Monday after scrutiny from politicians and media coverage.
• A DWP spokesperson emphasized the role was posted by an independent registered charity and confirmed it was not a government or taxpayer-funded position.
• Didsbury Mosque stated the position was financed through community donations, functions as a religious arbitration service under UK law, and will be reworded to avoid future misunderstanding.
• The role required candidates to hold a degree in Sharia law with previous experience in Islamic legal settings and involved administrative, secretarial and client support duties for the Manchester Sharia Council.
• Sharia councils have operated as voluntary arbitration bodies since the 1980s, and their estimated 30 to 85 locations across Britain continue to prompt debate over oversight and the protection of women’s rights.