Williams defends sharia law debate

Addressing the General Synod of the Church of England, Rowan Williams said he believed "quite strongly" that it was right for a senior member of the church to discuss the concerns of other religious communities.

Dr Williams was speaking in the wake of the hostile reception to remarks he made in a BBC interview last Thursday, in which he said the adoption of some aspects of Islamic sharia law in the UK "seemed unavoidable".

The interview preceded a public lecture at the Royal Court of Justice on civil and religious law in England from a religious perspective.

In his opening address to the Synod in London, the Archbishop said he thought certain aspects of his remarks had been distorted in the discussion that followed.

"Some of what has been heard is a very long way indeed from what was actually said in the Royal Courts of Justice last Thursday," he told the meeting in London.

"But I must, of course, take responsibility for any unclarity in either that text or in the radio interview, and for any misleading choice of words that has helped to cause distress or misunderstanding among the public at large and especially among my fellow Christians."

Dr Williams avoided using the word "sharia" throughout his 3,000-word address, which was met with warm applause.

The Archbishop thanked members of the church for their support over the weekend, and welcomed the serious reception his comments had received.

"I believe quite strongly that it is not inappropriate for a pastor of the Church of England to address issues around the perceived concerns of other religious communities and to try and bring them into better public focus," he added.