Posted on 11/30/2006 6:17:10 AM PST by Dark Skies
SECRET courts imposing draconian Islamic justice are operating across Britain.
Last night politicians and religious leaders expressed outrage that sharia law is gaining an increasing foothold in our society.
The hardline Islamic law allows people to be stoned to death, beheaded or have their limbs amputated.
Critics insisted Labour was allowing a chaotic two-tier legal system to flourish in the name of political correctness.
And legal experts warned that it meant the authority of British justice was being undermined. Sharia law dates back to the 10th century.
In some countries women are stoned to death for adultery or giving birth out of wedlock and thieves can have both arms amputated.
In Saudi Arabia, murderers, rapists and drug traffickers are publicly beheaded with a sword. The Islamic law also deals in all aspects of daily life including marriage and divorce.
Yesterday experts insisted the Government had already allowed elements of sharia law to be introduced. The Treasury has brought in measures including interest-free loans and mortgages which comply with the Islamic law.
But it was also alleged unofficial criminal courts are meting out their own justice.
The scandal was outlined on BBC Radio 4’s Law in Action programme which uncovered evidence that Muslims are using their own laws here.
Youth worker Aydarus Yusuf, 29, told how he helped convene an unofficial court which uses Somalian law.
He said a hearing was held in Woolwich, South-east London, after a group of youths were arrested on suspicion of attacking another Somali teenager.
The victim’s family told police the matter would be settled out of court and the suspects were freed on bail.
The trial was conducted by community elders who ordered the attackers to pay compensation to the victim.
Mr Yusuf said: “The accused men admitted their guilt and apologised. All their uncles and fathers were there. They agreed compensation.”
He insisted he is more bound by the law of his country of birth than British justice, adding: “Somalis, wherever we live in the world, have our own law.”
The strength of sharia law was the strict punishments. Assailants were unlikely to re-offend as it would bring shame on their families, he said.
A Scotland Yard source said it was common for the police not to proceed with assault cases if victims did not press charges.
Dr Patrick Sookhdeo of the Institute for the Study of Islam and Christianity said: “Sharia courts now operate in most larger cities, with different sectarian and ethnic groups operating their own courts that cater to their specific needs according to their tradition.
“The Government has not been straight about this. It has it’s own sharia advisers and it has already introduced measures that are compliant with sharia law.
"Muslim communities are creating their own infrastructure based on sharia law. A Muslim community can now function within its own society on every level.”
The Tory spokesman for homeland security Patrick Mercer said: “This is complete nonsense. If you want to live under sharia law you should go to a country where it holds sway.”
Muslim and Christian groups were also outraged.
The Rev Keith Osmund-Smith, from the Heart of England Baptist Association, said: “It is almost like a stealthy change in the law and I’m very very much against it.”
Dr Mohammed Naseem, chairman of Birmingham Central Mosque, said: “Sharia law states that you respect the law of the land and therefore it cannot be enforced in this country.”
Faisal Aqtab Siddiqi, head of the Hijaz College Islamic University in Nuneaton, Warwickshire, said: “We no longer have the bobby on the beat who will give somebody a slap on the wrist.
“So I think there is a case to be made under which the elders sit together and reprimand people, trying to get them to change.”
Some academic lawyers welcome alternative legal systems.
Dr Prakesh Shah, law lecturer at Queen Mary, University of London, said: “Tribunals like the Somali court could be more effective than the formal legal system in maintaining social harmony.”
A spokeswoman for the Department for Communities and Local Government said: “Sharia law will not be introduced to the whole or any part of the UK. We are absolutely clear that existing British law applies to everyone.”
“Somalis, wherever we live in the world, have our own law.”
Wonder if someone is checking what goes on in places such as Rochester, MN and in the huge Somali population in Vermont?
slowly it will become Europe's new Court replacing the EU
The Mohammadens tried this where I practice law in some domestic violence cases. The judges are quite clear and direct that they don't care about Islamic cultural traditions and "legal systems", advise them that in their courtrooms American law applies and then proceed to apply it with vigor. These attempts to apply Sharia around here seem to have died down.
Good to here.
Here=Hear. Dang spell check!
Most of europe (soon to be eurabia) is looking at this type of situation.
Want to lose sleep over this issue? Read "AMERICA ALONE" by Mark Steyn.
Is this really going on? If so are patriotic Brits as outraged as patriotic Americans are?
BBC: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1745606/posts
Daily Telegraph: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1745531/posts
On the latter thread I remarked - "Contrary to what the article suggests, Muslim populations in the UK tend to be rather concentrated in specific parts of two or three large cities - the idea that Sharia courts now operate in most larger cities is to me, an exaggeration." (italics are quotes from the article).
Um, I do believe this violates British law. Why doesn't the ACLU represent the victims of sharia law in this obvious violation of their constitutional rights?
I take it none of those judges were appointed by Clinton.
Congratulations on living in a place where judges still vigorously apply the law as it is given to them, instead of trying to be "progressive" for the Democrats.
"in the huge Somali population in Vermont?"
I didn't know that such a population existed. Does that mean that all the former New York leftists (see Howard Dean) will now move out?
Because the American Civil Liberties Union is primarily concerned with what goes on in America and doesn't hire many experts in UK constitutional rights and because in the story as published no British resident or American or even Somali was identified as a victim of sharia law?
<< slowly (Sharia) will become Europe's new Court replacing the EU >>
Slowly?
You kid yourself!
Inexorably, perhaps -- but not slowly.
That is certainly reasonable, and hardly worth fretting over. If they start ordering physical punishment, violence, retribution or special punishment against women, then the government should intervene.
Dont have the ACLU here. Dont have a constitution as such either, so no probs :)
And what if the attackers refuse?
Interest free loans and mortgages??? That would mean that if the bank was forced to do this, the interest they are NOT making would be shoved over onto the rest of us.
I feel this is totally discrimination.
I certainly hope some lawyer feels the same way and files suit for same.
If they want to live outside Islam countries, they can conform to the rules here.
If I were a banker-like my grandad was- I would refuse to do business with them. Interest free loans, indeed? What is next? Retailers selling to them at cost???
Must be tough to try and live in 2006 and use cave man mentality. My apologies to the cave man!!!
FMCDH(BITS)
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