Bishop backs under fire Williams

Bishop Wright said Dr Williams had been misunderstood

The Bishop of Durham has backed the Archbishop of Canterbury over comments about the adoption of some elements of Islamic Sharia law in Britain.

Dr Rowan Williams sparked a major row last week, after implying the adoption of parts of the law was "unavoidable".

Dr Williams has moved to calm the storm in the wake of protests, including some from sections of the Anglican Church.

But Rt Rev Tom Wright told BBC Radio Newcastle that Dr Williams had been right to spark debate.

I substantially think that he was right to raise the issues and that he was right in his basic analysis Rt Rev Tom Wright, Bishop of Durham

Dr Williams insisted he was not advocating a parallel set of laws, but nevertheless faced calls for his resignation.

On Monday, he told the Church of England's general synod he felt some remarks had been taken out of context, but accepted he may have created misunderstanding.

Bishop Wright said Dr Williams was not advocating extreme elements of Sharia law, which call for beheadings and floggings.

He said: "What he was basically addressing was the question of how we live in a society which is increasingly secular.

"It is already a reality that we have accommodation within our system for the consciences of religious groups.

"What he was suggesting is that we need to monitor this and it may need to be extended in some cases.

"I substantially think that he was right to raise the issues and that he was right in his basic analysis of how we have got where we have got.

"He has been grossly misrepresented."