A Sharia court was opened in Padua, Italy. Padua has been a famous European center for legal studies since the University of Padua and its law school were founded in 1222. A lawyer named Omar Venin has now launched the "Islamic Italian Arbitration Bureau" in the city. It is designed to serve Muslims in Italy who want to resolve civil and commercial disputes according to the principles of Islamic law. A debate began in Italy as to whether it should be seen as just an innocent case of private arbitration or as a first step towards a parallel judicial system in Italy. Padua's prosecutor's office doesn't like what it sees and has opened an investigation.

A Sharia court was opened in Padua, Italy. Padua has been a famous European center for legal studies since the University of Padua and its law school were founded in 1222. A lawyer named Omar Venin has now launched the "Islamic Italian Arbitration Bureau" in the city. It is designed to serve Muslims in Italy who want to resolve civil and commercial disputes according to the principles of Islamic law. A debate began in Italy as to whether it should be seen as just an innocent case of private arbitration or as a first step towards a parallel judicial system in Italy. Padua's prosecutor's office doesn't like what it sees and has opened an investigation.