Islamic law for Muslims would create legal apartheid in Britain, David Cameron said today.

In the continuing row over the possible introduction of Sharia into Britain, the Conservative leader attacked the Archbishop of Canterbury for his comments this month that the introduction of some elements of Muslim law was “unavoidable” and would strengthen communities.

“The reality is that the introduction of Sharia law for Muslims is actually the logical endpoint of the now discredited doctrine of state multiculturalism instituting, quite literally, a legal apartheid to entrench what is the cultural apartheid in too many parts of our country,” Mr Cameron said.

Dr Rowan Williams caused public outrage when he said that the adoption of some parts of Sharia would be “unavoidable” in Britain. He faced a barrage of protest and was forced to apologise for his “unclarity” at the General Synod. He refused to retract his comments that the introduction of the controversial legal system would create greater community cohesion.

Multimedia

• Video Q&A with Archbishop of Canterbury about Sharia

• Churchgoers react to Archbishop's comments

• Listen to the Archbishop's speech on Islam

Intellectual arrogance pervades heart of wisdom

Dr Williams was advised before his speech that the content could prove controversial. He should have listened to that advice

BACKGROUND

• St Rowan seeks forgiveness for the sin of ‘unclarity’

• Prime Minister gives his backing to Archbishop

• Archbishop faces critics on day of judgment

• Sympathy and anger as faithful judge leader

• Row over gay clergy threatens to divide Church

BACKGROUND

• John Donne's pulpit

• The Archbishop of Canterbury and Sharia

• My brush with Sharia was swift and fair

• Surprise at sheer fury of attacks on Williams

I've read it so you don't have to

The Archbishop of Canterbury meant well and was quite aware of some of the objections

BACKGROUND

• Adopt Sharia in UK for Muslims, says Archbishop

• Archbishop urged to resign over Sharia row

• Full text of Archbishop's lecture

• From Leyton to Dewsbury, Sharia courts are already settling disputes

Mr Cameron, speaking in a debate organised by the Equality and Human Rights Commission, said that the adoption of Sharia would “undermine” society and “alienate” other communities causing resentment at preferential treatment given to Muslims. The Leader of the Opposition cautioned that any move to introduce Islamic law would increase the threat from extremism.

“It would provide succour to the separatists who want to isolate and divide communities from the mainstream,” he said. “And it would — crucially — weaken, destabilise and demoralise those Muslims who embrace liberal values and desperately want to integrate fully in British society.”

Mr Cameron said that people could already reach agreements between themselves to settle private disputes under Sharia or other systems of law. But he went on: “If the Archbishop was not talking about the status quo — about what already exists — the danger is that he was actually suggesting something else, something more akin to different laws for different communities.

“This would be dangerous and illiberal. It would be dangerous because in Britain, all citizens are equal before the law."