The Sikh court is not a religious court | Letter

We apply the law of England and Wales to resolve disputes, says Sharan Kaur Bhachu, the court’s family lead judge

I read with interest Pragna Patel’s opinion piece about the Sikh court (The world is getting its first Sikh court in London. That’s a threat to women’s rights, 31 May). Southall Black Sisters, the organisation of which she is a founding member, is an important institution in the South Asian community and has been defending women’s rights since it was founded. We are cognisant of Pragna’s concerns, which are rooted in her organisation’s experience.

We agree that religious courts can create safeguarding concerns and that traditionally patriarchal religious and cultural bodies can place pressure on women to comply or acquiesce.