Law Society withdraws controversial Sharia guidance
In a significant policy shift, the Law Society has issued an apology and withdrawn controversial guidance for solicitors on how to draft ‘Sharia-compliant wills’ that would deny women an equal share of inheritance and exclude non-Muslims entirely. The advice, released in March this year, was intended to ‘assist solicitors who have been instructed to prepare a valid will which follows Sharia succession rules’. But today Andrew Caplen, the President of the Law Society, has apologised and announced the withdrawal of the guidelines: ‘Our practice note was intended to support members to better serve their clients as far as is allowed by the law of England and Wales,’ he said. ‘We reviewed the note in the light of criticism. We have withdrawn the note and we are sorry.’ The guidelines attracted severe criticism when they were published.
Surprise! Arabs and Jews unite to proclaim Messiah's return
A new generation of Arab and Jewish followers of Jesus met together last week to strategise on how to ‘turn Israel upside down.’ Two hundred and sixty Messianic Jewish and Arab pastors, youth leaders, evangelists, Bible-school teachers and ministry leaders gathered for a three-day council to discuss, study, pray and work together to effectively bring the Word of God in power to Arabs and Jews throughout the whole Land of Israel. These seasoned men and women of faith embody decades of labour proclaiming the Gospel to local Arabs and Jews. Most have given up everything to preach Messiah to their unbelieving Muslim and Jewish families and friends. Despised because of their faith, they have lost jobs, suffered rejection and endured multiple other hardships, yet their passion to bring the Good News to their people remains unquenched. ‘We will keep preaching and teaching the Word of God until it changes the people of Israel,’ declared one leading pastor.
Nigeria: Preparations for 2015 Elections
Nigeria will hold a presidential election on 14 February and many are beginning to speculate on President Goodluck Jonathan’s second term bid and how political parties will address issues affecting Nigeria’s economy, terrorist and political challenges. In the coming weeks there will be quarrels over who is to be a delegate as well as many issues that may arise through primaries. Although a President can never solve all the problems in his country we can pray that the candidates for the next presidency will be men or women who have a heart to make positive differences to Nigeria’s future.
Egypt: Lawyer convert still in jail
The first Egyptian citizen to attempt to change his legal religious identity from Muslim to Christian, Mohammed Hegazy, has been in jail for twelve months awaiting a verdict on separate misdemeanour charges, (due on 28 December). He faces five years in jail if an appeal court upholds his June conviction of ‘illegally filming anti-Christian demonstrations.’ His lawyer, Karam Ghobrial, said he is optimistic that the appeal court judge will overturn the conviction because no evidence was produced to prove the allegations against his client. Mr. Ghobrial contends that the real reason for the arrest and custody was because he is publicly known for a case he tried to open in 2007 to legalize his conversion to Christianity.
