Page "Sharia" Paragraph 35

According to Jan Michiel Otto, Professor of Law and Governance in Developing Countries at Leiden University, " Anthropological research shows that people in local communities often do not distinguish clearly whether and to what extent their norms and practices are based on local tradition, tribal custom, or religion.

Those who adhere to a confrontational view of sharia tend to ascribe many undesirable practices to sharia and religion overlooking custom and culture, even if high-ranking religious authorities have stated the opposite.

" Otto's analysis appears in a paper commissioned by the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs.