Judges question use of Quran in taking oath

News & Record (Greensboro, NC) ^ | June 20, 2005 | Eric Collins, Staff Writer

[Zunt Toad]

GREENSBORO -- All Syidah Mateen wanted was to give Muslim witnesses the chance to be sworn in on the Quran before testifying in Guilford County courtrooms.

But an attempt by the Greensboro Islamic center to donate copies of the Muslim holy text last week sparked a legal debate that has left state court officials scrambling to decide whether to allow the practice.

Officials with the Administrative Office of the Courts in Raleigh are trying to come up with a statewide policy on the issue before news of the controversy sparks a large outcry, spokesman Dick Ellis said.

The AOC will pose the question to the state's judges as they confer this week at judicial conferences in Asheville and Wrightsville Beach, Ellis said.

"We'll take the input of the judges and bring it together and try to come up with an answer that pleases most people and follows the law," he said.

[Squeako]

The troll is dead.

Banished to his mommy's basement, burning his stash.

[Nam Vet]

Yah sure, let them swear on a book that tells them it's fine to lie to infidels. Any judge who allowed that should be tarred and feathered .... then run outa town on a rail.

Nam Vet

[Alia]

NC *Ping*

Please FRmail Constitution Day OR TaxRelief OR Alia if you want to be added to or removed from this North Carolina ping list.

[Schnucki]

Well, one problem is that the Quran apparently condones lying if it furthers the cause.

[Gritty]

This would be hilarious if it weren't so appalling in so many ways.

Swearing to tell the truth by taking an oath on the Koran is an oxymoron. The Koran encourages lying and deception to further the it's murderous goals. How can a person taking such an oath be trusted?

[HamiltonJay]

The Quran justifies lying cheating and stealing in order to achieve an ends to a means for the good of Islam... swearing an oath of honesty upon it is meaningless.

[savedbygrace]

A witness can simply Affirm that the testimony will be true. No need for swearing on any book. A Muslim who is dedicated to the Quran is instructed in it to lie to non-Muslims anyway, so what's the point?

[azhenfud]

"..the story's already loaded."

Just like a used Pamper.

[azhenfud]

To swear upon a lie only makes a liar certain.

[BikerNYC]

A witness can simply Affirm that the testimony will be true. No need for swearing on any book.

Agreed. The swearing on a book does not make the legal consequences of perjury any harsher. Simply "affirm" all witnesses.

[savedbygrace]

Yep.