Muslim couples should undergo a civil marriage as well as a religious ceremony to give women protection under the law, an independent review of sharia councils has recommended.
A report following the 18-month review called for an awareness campaign informing Muslim women of their legal rights, and said sharia councils should be subject to regulation with a code of conduct.
However, the Home Office said it would not adopt the recommendation on regulation.
The closure of sharia councils was “not a viable option”, the report concluded.