They are calling themselves judges, claiming to have been schooled in law at such and such place, doing the hearings in law offices. Is this a legally recognized practice in this state? Can they legally practice law here?
The court uses a conference room in a northeast Dallas law office, where one of the judges works. During a visit there, that judge, Taher el-Badawi, said the tribunal has settled about two dozen cases, mostly of divorcing couples.
“Our community really needs an Islamic tribunal to solve problems,” he said. “And we save money and save time for all the community.”
... El-Badawi has a law degree from his native Egypt and a master’s in international law from Southern Methodist University. The two other judges are Lebanon-born Imam Moujahed Bakhach of the Islamic Association of Tarrant County, and Pakistan-born, British-raised Imam Zia ul-Haque Sheikh of the Islamic Center of Irving.
Their website — Islamictribunal.org — says: “Experienced judges ready to fight for you,” and “Great advisors solve problems.”
Religious Freedom VS Sharia-Phobia
(Fort Worth Startle-gram)
http://www.star-telegram.com/opinion/opn-columns-blogs/bud-kennedy/article10724396.html
Shariah-phobia is back, and Irving is tired of it.
Mayor Beth Van Duyne took to Facebook to say the Constitution is the sole law in Irving, after people who should know better stoked fearmongering over a dispute-resolution panel involving the Irving mosque.
Local online foghorn Glenn Beck said the Dallas-based Islamic Tribunal “needs to be stopped.”
Writing from Florida, lawyer Mat Staver of Liberty Counsel feared “slow, systematic jihad.”
I really don’t care. If all parties agree to the tribunal and to abide by the decision, what difference does it make?
To expound further, if all parties agree to abide by the ruling of a chicken, by where it craps on a grid - I’m totally fine with that.
After all, civil law is simply a manner of resolving civil disputes - those disputes are often settled outside of court, and not necessarily exactly as law would dictate.
If the chicken poops, and the dispute is ended...I’m fine with that crappy process.
I’m guessing that community property thing gives Muslims problems. Texas is a no fault divorce state. Sharia can’t abide allowing females equal rights?