Posted on 02/08/2008 9:02:51 AM PST by pitinkie
Sharia law "courts" are already dealing with crime on the streets of London, it emerged today.
The revelation came after the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, called for an "accommodation" with parts of the Islamic legal code in a speech which attracted widespread condemnation.
The Archbishop said parts of civil law could be dealt with under the sharia system but already some communities have gone much further - and it was revealed today that a teenage stabbing case among the Somali community in Woolwich had been dealt with by a sharia "trial".
Youth worker Aydarus Yusuf, 29, who was involved in setting up the hearing, said a group of Somali youths were arrested by police on suspicion of stabbing another Somali teenager.
The victim's family told officers the matter would be settled out of court and the suspects were released on bail.
A hearing was convened and elders ordered the assailants to compensate the victim.
"All their uncles and their fathers were there," said Mr Yusuf. "So they all put something towards that and apologised for the wrongdoing."
An Islamic Council in Leyton also revealed that it had dealt with more than 7,000 divorces while sharia courts in the capital have settled hundreds of financial disputes.
Today's revelations came as controversy raged over Dr Williams's call for parts of sharia law to be adopted in Britain.
His comments were condemned by Downing Street, the Tories and the chairman of the Government's Equalities and Human Rights Commission.
They were described as a "recipe for chaos" by Culture Secretary Andy Burnham.
Along with the Islamic Council in Leyton, there are reports of at least two other sharia courts sitting in London.
There are also courts in a number of other areas of the country with high Muslim populations, including Dewsbury in West Yorkshire, Birmingham and Rotherham, South Yorkshire.
Most are understood to concentrate on divorce cases - although such judgments are not recognised in British law - as well as financial disputes.
Suhaib Hasan, a spokesman for the Islamic Sharia Council in Leyton, which was set up in 1982, said that he and his colleagues dealt with more than 200 cases a year, ranging from inheritance to marriage and divorce.
"From the beginning, people have wanted our services. More and more come back to us. Each month we deal with 20 cases," he said.
On its website, the Islamic Sharia Council warns those who use its services that the divorces it grants cannot invalidate a union under British civil law and advises that a separate civil divorce should be obtained.
As well as giving advice on legal matters, such as inheritance, the website also gives general guidance on Muslim practices including the need for beards and the need for women to cover themselves in public.
It also covers issues such as whether women should train as doctors.
It supports this as a "lesser evil", but suggests that training should take place at an all-female college and that future treatment should be given to "women only".
If all the parties concerned are consenting, and it doesn’t violate English law. There’s nothing to stop a group of people following whichever micky-mouse code they choose to submit themselves to.
I think the issue is if it’s made official and legally binding were it becomes a problem, frankly, I can’t see that happening, despite Beardy’s recent comments....
Filed under, “see how much better you’ll feel under our heel”
You’re kidding?
Of course it violates English Law. If someone was stabbed then the ENGLISH courts cannot be usurped in the administration of justice. The English Court is the law of the land and no other court is recognized.
Sharia cannot supersede statutory law in a Democracy. So, the application of force to carry out judgments must be reserved to civil authorities.
And, I’ll oppose Islamicisation of society generally.
However, arbitration by mutually acceptable arbitrators is a feature of many social and economic relationships.
Insofar as they do not usurp civil authority, do not use force to carry out judgments, and any party may refer the matter to civil courts at their discretion, I don’t have a problem with that.
Reducing the burden on civil courts through that sort of arbitration should remain legal.
As soon as a Sharia court steps over a civil law bright line, the courts members themselves should be convicted and imprisoned.
If everyone can keep their feet on the right side of the lines, this could work out.
And, before I’m accused of Islamophilia, I’ll state that I’m a MEMRI contributor, AIPAC member, etc. I’m highly referenceable as opposed to Islamofascism.
If the position above can be shown to be wrong, please show me.
< donning flame retardant suit>
OBTW - Stabbing is an Assault, defined in criminal law, and cannot be subject to Sharia courts. Such infractions have criminal courts that must adjudicate the matter.
“Of course it violates English Law. If someone was stabbed then the ENGLISH courts cannot be usurped in the administration of justice. The English Court is the law of the land and no other court is recognized.”
English courts are evidently too busy jailing grandmas for pointing bb guns at hoodlums who are vandalizing her home.
Aye....therein lies the rub.
Very interesting. Very clever. Legal jihad.
See my prior post above. A Muslim CANNOT reject Sharia law and not be considered an apostate, for which the penalty is DEATH
***If the position above can be shown to be wrong, please show me.***
Simple. They make up their own laws.
Even a Catholic orphanage in the UK was NOT allowed to refuse to give children to gay couples, and has had to go out of business after about 100 years of providing loving homes to needy children. If they can’t make up their own laws based on religion, why should the Islamists be allowed to?
In Ontario, Canada even such a mild eager to please Premier Dalton McGuinty, has (so far and touch wood) declared no sharia law. The price has been heavy. This seems to eliminate Jewish separate judicial hearings.
I understand to my consternation sharia law may have got to Texas. I just Googled it.
Ah, my ten pin bowling league starts shortly. Back at 1pm PST.
Nobody objects to Muslims officiating at marriages and divorces or in personal conflict arbitration.
It becomes a problem when 1) they adjudicate criminal matters in a manner that is not compatible with civil law; and 2) they attempt to apply these laws on the general public.
UK already has Sharia courts.
What’s the uproar about?
maybe the Stone’s “Under My Thumb” was a song about Dhimmitude.
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