But according to Mr Hussain Hassan, secretary of the Somali Forum – representing some of the city's estimated 4,000-strong, mostly Sunni- Muslim Somali community – these 'courts' should not be mistaken for Sharia law, which the Archbishop of Canterbury last week suggested would inevitably play a part in British society.
"Issues sorted out in a cultural way does not neccessarily mean it takes place in a religious way.
"Community courts, or gars, can demand damages for victims and apologies from offenders.
"We use community courts for some issues instead of using the police.
"If it is a criminal matter we don't tend to deal with it," Mr Hassan said.
"Our community courts are for our specific community and our specific problems.
"They do not apply equally to all Muslims," he said.
Milton Keynes Lighthouse, supporting those affected by domestic violence from all cultures and communities, said an option was for victims to get help from within their community to stay sage from violence.
"However some are put at risk by being encouraged to stay in a violent relationship by others around them," said manager Janet Croston. She said Lighthouse provided interpreters whenever needed (on MK 672082).
Meanwhile a leading city lawyer says the heated debate about Sharia law missed a fundamental issue.
Trevor Coward, head of commercial litigation at Geoffrey Leaver said: " The idea that parties to a civil dispute can elect to have it dealt with in a way more sympathetic to their own culture and religion does have superficial appeal but it seems there is a fundamental legal objection which has been overlooked.
"This would not be happening if the outcomes were no different from that which could be handed down in the normal courts.
"In other words, clearly one party is doing better than they would in a normal court and the other is doing worse," he said.