"This is not an Islamic country, which is why so many of us came to live here. If sharia were to become part of the legal system it would be a disaster for women," says Jaan. "Many are not even aware of their rights so they think sharia is the proper law."

I spoke to Aatifa, a religious Muslim woman living in Leicester who has been living in temporary accommodation since her husband threw her out. "He wanted to bring home a new wife," says Aatifa, "but I cannot cope with that." Aatifa complained and her husband took her to the sharia court in their mosque. "He was told it was fine to bring back another wife, even up to three more. I pleaded with the imam to listen to my concerns, but because we have not had children yet, it was ruled that I had not fulfilled my duties as a wife and had no rights." Polygamy is of course illegal under UK law, but not under sharia.

John Bowen, author of Blaming Islam, is an anthropologist based at Washington University in St Louis. He specialises in comparative social studies of Islam across the world. Bowen has found that Britain is unique in having a well-developed network of sharia courts, and has interviewed imams, scholars and members of the public who access them. He argues that sharia councils do not have any legal power, and are therefore harmless bodies that simply allow people to settle disputes without accessing mainstream courts. I asked Bowen what he thought about such bodies making decisions on divorce when women cite domestic violence. "The accusation is that sharia councils try to bring couples back together, but this is the case with mainstream law, which is why there is waiting time before a divorce, mediation and couples counselling. A reconciliation and a joint meeting of the husband and wife is always urged."

But under UK law, women do not have to ask for permission from their violent husband, self-appointed community leader or religious representative in order to be granted a divorce. I asked Bowen if he was concerned about women who are frightened of their imam and are told by a sharia court that they must return to a violent husband. "If somebody is given a sharia ruling they don't like they can just go to the [secular] court and get another," he replied. But what about those women who are married in Islamic ceremonies, speak little English, and believe that the word of the imam is law?

Sharia is an important tool with which the Islamist movement restricts women's freedom. There is a link between sharia and the rise of Islamism, including groups like Islamic State or the Muslim Brotherhood. Many, however, whether naively or deliberately, fail to see it. The legitimisation of sharia has a negative effect on women, children and society as a whole. These effects are noticeable from Iraq to Iran and Saudi Arabia as well as in Britain.