But it is unusual, and there is no good reason why Imam's should not, like Christian priests, be allowed to be registrants.
@AnSolas But can also understand how the personal bias and cultural background within a community can work against women as they try to exit their relationship.
That is true, as is class background a factor in the UK. But do remember that there are advantages to looking at things the way other cultures do as well - we are often arrogant in our assumption that our way is the best way or the only way. Or that our way somehow protects better. You can be a married white UK woman with three children and lose your home and never see a penny in support or maintenance. You can be an unmarried white UK woman and have exactly the same outcome. It's a bit of a lottery. A Muslim woman who has gone through the Nikah only can end up in the same place. But equally the pressure brought to bear on an irresponsible Muslim ex-husband by his own family and community can make a huge difference in her continuing support - even the "sort of Muslim" can be brought to heel by the shame he brings on his family by ignoring his religious duty. And in other instances the Muslim woman may be better off than the unmarried white UK woman - she has some law on her side, if not the law of the land.
Equally, a Muslim couple enter into a marriage expecting hard times, expecting things not to be perfect, and for love to grow over time whilst facing life together. That is a much more pragmatic approach than the "we are so in love" western idea of marriage that often lasts no longer than the pheromones.
I doubt there is any society or group of people who have found the magic formula, but we need to be cautious about applying our "ways" as somehow being culturally superior. Because they aren't. They are just different.