The Manchester Evening News has fact-checked some of the claims made on social media and answered questions about the role
16:07, 29 Jul 2025Updated 16:14, 29 Jul 2025
Didsbury Mosque posted the job advert(Image: Manchester Evening News)
A job advert for a ‘Sharia Law Administrator’ in Manchester posted on a government website has caused a storm online.
Didsbury Mosque, which posted the advert on the Department for Work and Pensions website, has hit back against ‘misinformation’ being spread on social media. It comes after Nigel Farage shared the advert in a post on X, claiming the country is ‘being destroyed’.
The post by the Reform UK leader on Sunday (July 27) has been viewed by more than five million people. Another post about the advert by Tommy Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley Lennon, has been shared thousands of times on X, too.
Some people on social media have suggested the role is funded by the taxpayer. Others have questioned why the job exists.
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The job advert has now been removed from the government website as the mosque looks to reword the description of the role.
The Manchester Evening News has fact-checked some of the claims made on social media and answered questions about the role.
What is Sharia law?
Sharia councils – also known as Sharia courts – are not formal courts of law in the UK and have no legal or constitutional role under UK law. They have existed in the UK since the early 1980s and issue rulings and advice on marriage, divorce and other religious matters.
They are the Muslim equivalent to the Beth Din in Judaism, which provides civil arbitration and religious rulings to Jewish communities.
According to Didsbury Mosque, which posted the job advert, its Sharia service also offers civil arbitration and religious guidance.
In a statement, the mosque said: “Under the Arbitration Act (1996), all British citizens have the right to resolve civil – and not criminal or family – disputes through arbitration. They cannot provide rulings contrary to the law, but can resolve disputes.
“Some mosques in Manchester are registered to provide lawful civil marriages and perform a religious marriage as part of a lawfully conducted marriage service.”
The statement added: “We do not operate outside UK law or operate a parallel legal system which would be unlawful. We operate within UK law and all our policies reflect respect for UK laws.”
What is the role?
The Sharia Law Administrator job was posted on the Department for Work and Pensions website
The job advert was posted by the Manchester Community Centre, which is a limited company registered at the address of Didsbury Mosque. In its statement, the mosque said the job was advertised by the Manchester Islamic Centre (MIC), a UK registered charity.
The Manchester Evening News understands both those organisations fall under the umbrella of Didsbury Mosque, which is based on Burton Road.
The mosque told the Manchester Evening News the Sharia Law Administrator role was being advertised because the current post-holder is leaving.
According to the job description, the permanent, full-time job – which pays £23,500 a year – involves providing information and support.
The post-holder would also book appointments and help register religious marriages according to UK law, the mosque said.
In a statement, bosses said the ‘administrative role’ was advertised for ‘local people’ and was open to anybody.
How is it funded?
Didsbury Mosque is based in Burton Road(Image: Manchester Evening News)
Some people on social media suggested the job would be funded by the taxpayer because it appeared on a government website.
The Department for Work and Pensions website it appeared on advertises all sorts of jobs, not just in the public sector.
The mosque has confirmed it is not a government-funded role. The mosque pays for the role through community donations.
Why is it on a government website?
The Department for Work and Pensions ‘Find a Job’ portal advertises many jobs, including in the public, private and charity sector.
A government spokesperson said: “This job advert was advertised on the Find a Job portal by an independent registered charity, not DWP. Robust processes are in place to ensure all adverts on Find a Job meet strict guidelines.”
Why was the advert removed?
Following the backlash, Didsbury Mosque withdrew the job and asked the DWP to remove the advert from its website. The job advert will now be reworded to ‘avoid future misunderstanding’, the mosque said.
In a statement, bosses said: “The term Sharia law is misleading; it is not a legal court.
“Instead, it offers members of the Muslim communities two separate services – civil arbitration and religious guidance on numerous religious matters – neither of which constitutes a parallel legal system.”