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Sharia law could play a part in the settling of UK family disputes, the lord chief justice has said.
Lord Philips made the comments when addressing an audience at the East London Muslim Centre with a speech entitled Equality Before the Law.
He said principles of sharia law could be the basis for mediation or other forms of alternative dispute resolution.
Lord Philips stated: "It is possible in this country for those who are entering into a contractual agreement to agree that the agreement shall be governed by a law other than English law."
He also said there was a "limited precedent" for English law to recognise aspects of religious laws in relation to matrimonial laws.
However, he also said divorce could only be carried out in accordance with UK civil law.
Inayat Bunglawala from the Muslim Council of Britain told BBC News sharia law only applied to civil matters and "cannot override the English common law system at all".
