MOSCOW, July 7 (RAPSI) - This Monday, the Supreme Court of India ruled that Muslim courts operating in the country have no legal standing, AP reports.

Although the majority of India’s population is Hindu, Muslims account for a significant religious minority (over 10%). According to a verdict by Judge C. K. Prasad, Muslims are free to observe the rulings of a Sharia trial but they are not legally binding.

AP notes that the issue was considered by the Supreme Court following a ten year old incident in which a Muslim woman was raped by her father-in-law. According to Sharia law, the Muslim court annulled the victim’s marriage and ruled that she become the wife of the rapist.

After the incident, one of the lawyers in the case filed a lawsuit with the Supreme Court against the right of Sharia trials to hand down verdicts regarding fundamental human rights.