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Hysteria over 'sharia courts' in Scotland is unjustified

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Published Date: 13 October 2008
One's ears prick at the hysterical discord that surrounds the issue of sharia law every time it is mentioned in the media (your report, 9 October).
It is impossible to have a rational debate until people recognise that sharia deals with many aspects of day-to-day life, from business and banking to hygiene and social issues.

To date, there have been no demands from any Muslim organisation or
institution in Scotland for the introduction of "sharia courts".

I also understand no official talks have taken place, and not a single religious leader or mosque representative has been involved in any conversation with the Warwickshire-based Muslim Arbitration Tribunal .

I agree in principle with Islamic, Jewish or any other religious arbitration tribunals as long as they do not contravene British law. These tribunals are there for private disputes and work only if both parties agree to take part.

NOMAN TAHIR
Scottish-Islamic Foundation
Royal Exchange Square
Glasgow

Like the Kirk, (Letters, 10 October) we support the introduction of sharia courts in Scotland for members of the Muslim community.

In cases of domestic violence or abuse of women, we feel that sharia courts would give Muslim women the opportunity to resolve their disputes without recourse to the criminal law.

By using sharia courts, Muslim women and their partners would not have to appear in open court and risk the public humiliation of a criminal conviction for domestic violence.

A guilty finding in a sharia court for domestic violence would not result in a criminal conviction and therefore would not appear in a Disclosure Scotland police criminal records search, thus avoiding the potentially devastating effects on the job opportunities of the male partner, particularly in sensitive areas.

I STEWART
Convener, Atheist Scotland
Park Avenue
Dundee

It is outrageous that the establishment of sharia courts in Scotland is even being considered.

I believe that if Scotland allows these courts to deal officially with Muslim domestic issues, it could only be a matter of time before the full sphere of sharia is incorporated.

MICHAEL CONN
Braid Mount
Edinburgh



The full article contains 352 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
Page 1 of 1

  • Last Updated: 12 October 2008 8:45 PM
  • Source: The Scotsman
  • Location: Edinburgh
 
1

zeno,

www.thinkhumanism.com 13/10/2008 00:23:50
Tahir

You said: "To date, there have been no demands from any Muslim organisation or institution in Scotland for the introduction of "sharia courts".

I also understand no official talks have taken place, and not a single religious leader or mosque representative has been involved in any conversation with the Warwickshire-based Muslim Arbitration Tribunal."

Thw Scotsman reported last Thursday:

"Qamar Bhatti, director of the Muslim Arbitration Tribunal (MAT), which runs the courts, admitted discussions were taking place with lawyers and Muslim community groups in Scotland...In September it emerged that five sharia courts, ruling on civil cases from divorce to domestic violence and financial disputes, had been operating for more than a year in London, Birmingham, Bradford, Manchester and at MAT headquarters in Nuneaton, Warwickshire."

These two accounts differ somewhat, or are you just playing with semantics? Perhaps arbitration would be in order...

However, whatever the differences between these disparate Muslim groups, there still remains fundamental problems with sharia courts.

Sharia does not treat those before it with the equality we have come to expect in this country, so whether or not it replaces any existing British justice, it cannot be tolerated.

Also, many brought before a Sharia court (regardless of the 'offence') will not be aware of their full rights and may not even know they might have another choice.

Say no to Sharia in any form.
2

Anne,

Eaglesham 13/10/2008 06:26:23
So, Mr Stewart, you think that Sharia law should be introduced to protect an abuser from the due process of law?
3

Colin Wilson,

Aberdeen 13/10/2008 06:29:18
I Stewart appears to be proposing that the consequences for Muslim perpetrators of domestic violence be lighter than for the remainder of the population.

Could a spokesperson for an anti-DV organisation please give us a view on that idea?
4

Itchy,

13/10/2008 07:07:30
I Stewart is indeed proposing that Muslims get let off with domestic violence.
5

,

13/10/2008 08:20:53
Comment Removed By Administrator
Reason:
6

Guga II,

Rockall 13/10/2008 08:41:24
Mr. Stewart of Atheist Scotland, you are a prize idiot; and that is speaking as an atheist myself.
7

Curious Yellow,

Edinburgh 13/10/2008 09:47:57
I was going to comment on the ludicrous cr*p spouted by I Stewart, but everybody else has already said it.
8

Green,

13/10/2008 10:09:25
quote Muslim women and their partners would not have to appear in open court and risk the public humiliation of a criminal conviction for domestic violence quote.

Presumably Scotsman let this in uncorrected to show what fool.

If you take someone to court as they have commited a criminal offence by assaulting you, YOU suffer public humiliation????

No the public humiliation is for the criminal and its an accepted part of the way the criminal prosecution works to disuade people from crime.

Remember that being a perpetrator of domestic violence is the most common indicator that a person will be involved in all other types of crime, theft, burglary, extortion, fireraising, driving offences, drug dealing... every type of crime.
9

Miss H,

13/10/2008 10:14:25
Why do people switch their brains off whenever anything to do with Muslims is discussed.

The Atheist Scotland guy was clearly being sarcastic.

But his sarcasm is unwarranted as there are no proposals to introduce sharia courts into Scotland.

The Scotsman's whole story was rubbish as some of us said when it was published.

Just an excuse for the islamaphobes to have a good rant.

10

G,

dundy 13/10/2008 10:21:45
Miss H, you said evrything I wanted to say.

Just another excuse to display their prejudice and ignorance.....
11

Ed_Izmir,

Turkey 13/10/2008 10:22:40
As I thought, most people comment on articles without actually reading them properly.....Miss H, glad to see you get it.
12

Lazarou,

edinburgh 13/10/2008 11:27:14
Loving all the outraged idiots who conmpletely missed the fact that Mr Stewart's comment was ironic, as Miss H rightly said. Learn to stop and think people! The very idea of giving any religion a place in our legal system is abhorrent, we don't need to go back to the middle ages as we've already learned from those mistakes (I hope).
13

Itchy,

13/10/2008 13:13:35
#9 Islamophobe?

There is rather a lot to be scared of with Sharia Law and rather a lot to be scared of with any theocratic law.

BTW why is it obvious that Mr Stewart is being ironic? There are plenty out there who agree with him.
14

GlenB,

13/10/2008 16:52:59
I suggest you all read the article in The Times
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/faith/article4749183.ece


15

Colin Wilson,

Aberdeen 13/10/2008 17:19:47
Re #13 : G often imputes a particular point of view to other people, without actually giving any citation in support of his claim, just as he's omitted to do in this case.

If I Stewart's letter is sarcasm, it's on a subject where this is less than entirely appropriate.
16

truthsleuth,

13/10/2008 23:40:16
Any Sharia Law 'court' is nothing short of operating a 'kangaroo court'.
I undersatnd the Jewish faith already operate their own 'courts'.
However two wrongs do not make a right and there should be just
one system law and one system of justice
one educational system with no faith schools
no special priviliges for ANY religious faith or members of any faith.
One passport per person either UK or other nationality

Special pleading and priviliges leads to the eventual disintigration of a civilised society.
17

Milton101,

Edinburgh 14/10/2008 19:21:00
ABSOLUTELY NO SHARIA LAW!
Anywhere, anytime in Scotland or the UK.

Any group with an ancient MYTHOLOGY will be queuing up to have THEIR courts and laws formally recognized.
The specifics are even more absurd. ABUSE AGAINST WOMEN? Are you kidding me? That is PRECISELY a case that should be heard in regular courts, not hidden away by male supremicist mytholigies.

18

Seathanaich,

Canada 02/11/2008 05:04:58
The Soviets had a name for "peace" protesters in the West during the Cold War: useful fools.

Mr Stewart has just been named Useful Fool of the Year by the mullahs and suicide bombers. If Mr Stewart is an atheist, and not someone posing as one to discredit them, he is proof that the rejection of one form of ridiculous religious belief does not necessarily mean that one is immune from being conned by another.

 

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