THE RISE AND RISE OF THE SHARIA The past few years – 2014 in particular – have been trying ones for humankind. On the geopolitical scene, we have seen the re-emergence of the Cold War and the alarming resurgence of international Islamist extremism. At the domestic level, growing numbers of people feel increasingly disenfranchised by laws, regulations and rulings that they view as irrational or unfair (or just plain stupid). Many people in both developed and developing countries are losing faith in the structures and institutions of governance – the legislature, the executive, the bureaucracy, the courts. But there is one institution that has been going from strength to strength over the past couple of decades and 2015 is likely to be yet another good year for it: Sharia law. The Sharia (also spelt Shari’a and Shariyah) is the law of Islam. In Muslim countries, it may form the mainstay of the legal system such as in Saudi Arabia, or operate as a parallel system alongside a ‘Western’ legal structure. In Indonesia, it is the law of the province of Aceh as part of their greater autonomy deal with Jakarta. It has steadily encroached on the legal systems of some countries including Malaysia and Pakistan where it rivals British-derived law for supremacy. Contrary to what appears to be a widely held belief in the West, it is not a simple matter of the Sharia being imposed by insurgent paramilitary groups or by illicit Islamist governments – in counties as disparate as Afghanistan, Pakistan, Malaysia and Nigeria, many ordinary people clamour for the (re)instatement of Sharia law and preferentially avail themselves of it where the option presents itself. There is a thriving Sharia court system in the UK, and it is not only Muslims who use it. There is currently under consideration a proposal to incorporate the Sharia courts into the mainstream British judicial system, a suggestion that has evoked vigorous opposition from a variety of groups who have launched a ‘One Law For All’ campaign (does that ring any bells?!). The European Court of Human Rights following the case of Rafeh Partisi and others v Turkey 2001 declared the Sharia to be incompatible with “fundamental principles of democracy”. And yet the Sharia is evidently on a roll. What is its appeal to so many, both educated and uneducated, in countries both highly and poorly developed? When confronted with the term ‘Sharia’, most Westerners respond with references to some of the well-publicised punishments such as lashing, amputation and stoning. They may also tell you how it legitimises slavery and the oppression of women. Some may add that it sanctions ISIS-style mass murder. Consider the following:....... Continue reading Barend Vlaardingerbroeks interesting article here > breakingviewsnz.blogspot.co.nz/2015/01/barend-vlaardingerbroek-rise-and-rise.html#more
Posted on: Fri, 02 Jan 2015 04:13:12 +0000
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