*UPDATED* Sharia Courts And Mirrors

The Province in Ontario, in it's wisdom, decided that Sharia Courts were a bad idea. No doubt influenced by the negative publicity of demonstartions by Muslim and other women that publicly decried the idea, the Premier of that province, rejected calls from within the Islamic community to have legal and binding arbitration courts.

So far, so good, right? Think again.

So as not to offend anyone, Christian, Aboriginal, Jewish and Jehovah Witness, Mennonites and other arbitration courts have now been banned.

The Premier of Ontario cannot see the difference between Sharia law and other religious courts. As we stated elsewhere,

"There is nowhere near the antagonistic response that sharia law found in it’s own community (i.e., Muslim- ed) as there is in other religious groups."

In comparing other religious courts and arbitration mechanisms we said,

Further, using religious courts is optional in those communities. There is indication the sharia courts would be more heartily ‘encouraged’ in the Muslim community- even if one of the parties wasn’t too keen on the idea.

Still, it appears as if we circumventing an important aspect- that of physical violence. The threat of that reality (as we see in various parts of the world, even today) has to be addressed- not so much by inference, but directly. There should be no ambiguity.

We would like to add that ambiguity is a hallmark characteristic in much of the Islamic community. What is said in English or other European languages is not said in native languages. We hear rational discourse in exchanges and read of religiously mandated hate in textbooks. Ethnic and religious hatred is the source of outrage- except when it is practised at home.

Terror against innocents is condemned- with certain exceptions. Certain groups are blamed for all that is wrong with the world, and so on- despite realities.

We recall a conversation we had with a friend from Syria.

"The real Naqbah (catastrophe)" he said, "was not the creation of Israel. It was video and audio tape."

He went on to say, bitterly, "We can no longer hide what we have become- not only from you, but from ourselves."

The Lost Budgie has an interesting look into what Sharia Law looks like, up close and personal. What is often the subject of rational conversation has an entirely different meaning, when the application of Sharia Law actually means. In his post, the Lost Budgie describes and discusses wife beating and 'discipline,' as quoted bt 'scholars.' As he concludes,

Just to be clear about this...

- Disciplining of rebellious wives is a husband's DUTY.
- Physical discipline should be a last resort after other incremental punishments have failed.
- Physical discipline should be in the form of "Not Hard Beatings" so that no marks are left on the woman.