Posted by
conservativedude on Tuesday, September 16, 2008 8:14:00 PM
Muslim lawmakers given authority in England? Unfortunately, that's the case as the British government has quietly given sharia courts authority in civil cases involving Muslims.
The news story indicates that church leaders and politicians have said this would create a "parallel legal system" and they are appropriately concerned by this. How can there be two sets of law anywhere? It's my estimation that if you have two sets of right and wrong, there are going to be problems down the line--and not just in the Muslin community--but also when Muslim/non-Muslim relations are concerned.
The original story detailed situations where already women have been discriminated against because Muslims irresponsibly perpetuate negativity and use the Qur'an to justify discrimination, hatred and violence toward women, as one example. While the extremist fringe of Muslims are terrorists (we'll call them "red light Muslims"), the Mosque-next-door types that we find in America, England, as well as throughout the Muslim world are frequently "yellow light Muslims" that discriminate, or abuse people and for the most part get away with it. Men who engage in so-called "honor killings" would be considered red light in my book as well because not only is it murder, but it's completely justified to them--and that's scary. There are "green light Muslims", who actually do live the 21st Century, enlightened view of Islam, but they are regrettably not the most vocal or prominent group. Now, with the rise of the sharia tribunal courts in England, the tolerant views of Islam will be further sidelined by the radicals.
Muslim women (and by extension all English women) have lost their voice in England because in property rights cases as well as abuse cases, women have already been denied justice and fairness. Brothers inherit twice as much as their sisters---so says the sharia court. Abusive husbands get counseling--and that's all---praise be to Allah!
A separate system of laws for Muslims has no place in England, or any other free society. How long I wonder until they buddy up with the ACLU and try to claw their way into America? In
1998, the Turkish Constitutional Court faced a similar challenge when the Refah political party wanted to promote sharia laws and they boldly responded by saying, "Democracy is the antithesis of sharia."
The sharia also forbids criticism of Islam or Muhammed, thus eliminating free speech. Women inherit less, live in constant fear of discrimination, abuse and rape. In some places, men in groups of 3 or less can rape women all the way 'til Ramadan because women need 4 witnesses to the rape, or else the victim is labled an adulterer and risks execution. Not to mention, at least 8 countries execute gay people based on sharia doctine.
With a foothold in England, and always the threat of one in America and elsewhere, I think the only appropriate course of action that the sharia might understand is some long overdue bastinado or
falaka.