Portrait of Shabana Mahmood
Politician · concept
Wikipedia (opens in new tab)

Shabana Mahmood on Sharia Law

Rejects Sharia law claims (strong)

TL;DR

Shabana Mahmood has strongly rejected claims that Sharia law is being introduced in London, calling such assertions plain wrong misinformation.

Key Points

  • She dismissed claims about Sharia law in London as misinformation, stating they are "plain wrong" in February 2026.

  • Mahmood specifically defended the Mayor of London against criticisms which included assertions about the capital moving towards Islamic law.

  • Her public statement on the matter was made while unveiling a package of immigration and asylum reforms for the Government.

Summary

Shabana Mahmood, in her capacity as Home Secretary, has publicly condemned what she termed “misinformation” concerning the introduction of Sharia law in London, specifically in response to comments made by the US President. She defended the Mayor of London, stating that assertions about Sharia law in the capital are “plain wrong” and that the Mayor has won a mandate from the people of London on three separate occasions. She made these remarks while launching a new package of immigration and asylum reforms in February 2026.

Mahmood’s comments situate her against claims suggesting a shift towards Islamic law within London’s governance, which have been made by political figures. Her statement reinforces the position that UK law remains supreme, a point often clarified in discussions regarding Sharia councils, which do not have the authority to override British law. The Home Secretary’s focus in this context was to address the misinformation while simultaneously presenting her government's firm stance on immigration control.

Key Quotes

"And let me just say on Sadiq, I think he's doing an excellent job as mayor of London and there is a lot of misinformation that is often put out about what's happening in London, whether that's on crime rates or whether that's on things like sharia law, for example, which are just misinformation. That's plain wrong."

Frequently Asked Questions

Shabana Mahmood's position is a strong rejection of any claims suggesting Sharia law is being introduced in London. As Home Secretary, she explicitly labelled such suggestions as misinformation that is "plain wrong" in early 2026.

Yes, the Home Secretary responded directly to recent comments made by the US President regarding London and Sharia law. She stated that she disagrees with some of the President's remarks and defended the sitting Mayor of London against those specific accusations.

Although her direct comments on Sharia law focused on refuting its introduction in London, her context implies adherence to the existing legal framework. The broader understanding is that Sharia councils cannot override the authority of UK law.