Are World Opinions Influencing Change In Sharia Law?
Posted: Friday, November 13, 2009
by Joel Hendon
http://hebronics.org/index.html
Sharia, or Shariah, law began development after the death of Muhammad sometime in the early seventh century A.D. It was used in tribes of Arabs who had embraced the religion of Islam. It is recognized today as the largest of all religious laws in governments. Yet, not nearly all Muslim dominated countries have it but rather, have a secular government.
The interpretation of Sharia Law differs from place to place or group to group. Early advocates of this law used punishment which they contended were according to the Koran or the Sunna and included decapitating, amputation, and stoning. Although radicals may incorporate some of these things in their terrorists methods, it is virtually unheard of anymore in the Sharia states. Several of these do still use corporal punishment of caning for certain crimes.
Just a few years ago, most of the countries under Sharia Law were not well known nor were their methods of rendering justice familiar to many. But since the Muslim countries have come into the limelight since 9/11/2001, their methods of punishment have been much more highly publicized. Some of the first I knew, was when Michael Fay was arrested and sentenced to six strokes with a cane for vandalism. This brought a good deal of criticism from global news people and then president, Bill Clinton appealed to the government to forego the punishment, which resulted in a lowering of the count from 6 to 4 strokes but the sentence was carried out.
Then, in 2002 news cameras captured and publicized videos of certain Taliban men beating a lady with a stick on the street. It was reportedly because of some breach of modesty in her dress, although she was clothed from head to shoe tops. Of course, it was learned later that the Taliban were radicals. But regardless, these two accounts had awakened the world to some of the methods employed by some people of Islam.
There were some Christian missionary girls who had been arrested in Afghanistan. Then later we all read of the arrest of the unmarried couple in Saudi Arabia for being alone together in an automobile before being captured and raped by some radical men. The woman's sentence included, as I recall, a goodly number of strokes with a cane, and when she appealed the sentence, the judge increased the number. But with outcries from all over, including an admonition from then president Bush, the Saudi Prince repealed the flogging part of her sentence. He did say however, that he felt the sentence had been justified.
Now, we have the model from Singapore who was sentenced $1,400 dollars plus six strokes with a rattan cane. She paid the fine and requested that the caning be done in public (they are normally done in private). Prime Minister, Najib Razak, has urged her to appeal the sentence for fear that public opinion would give the country a bad name.
It seems that some, at least, are beginning to consider what the world thinks of such treatment, especially towards women. Many are calling it torture while the U.S. has been lambasted for strong methods of interrogating terrorists. Had they beaten them with a cane, the world would have had spasms.
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Top-level comments on this article: (4 total)Very interesting. I recently heard about a member of the current administration who is advocating for the integration of sharia law into the U.S. It was from a phone recording I heard where she was assuring middle east leaders that the current administration is open to the idea. I thought I was in the twilight zone. I'm still not sure I believe what I heard.Thanks for the comment, Jim. Well, I assure you the U.S. is not yet ready for it.It keeps getting better. This is blatant violation of separation of church and state, but it seems our current administration is part and parcel with the Muslims. God help us.Thanks for the comment Anon.
I think you and I have discussed this before. Islam will NEVER undergo a reformation. It CAN'T. Because it's basic tenants simply can't go there. The idea of human rights, woman's equality, representative government and many other western concepts simple can't be incorporated into the Koran. The secular governments you mentioned use Sharia to oppress their own people. Thanks for writing this and I would like to think it might happen but I don't think so.Hi Jim, I agree that they will never hedge on their ground in beliefs, but it seems that some are trying a little harder to retain a little credibility in world opinion. However, they do so grudgingly as was with the Saudi Prince when he repealed the spanking the woman was about to get. He said the sentence was justified yet he bent his own conscience to release her from it. Thanks for writing.
Keep on writing and informing us - gives us much to chew and that is good! MarijoThanks Marijo. I sincerely appreciate you for reading and commenting on my articles.They are all varied and SO good - we don't have TV so I get my news off the internet and your pieces are truly a breath of fresh air and a perspective I can trust!Thanks again, I'm beginning to get a swelled head.
I remember how we reacted when the news about the flogging of Michael Fay for vandalism was all over the news. Violation of their law means punishment according to their law. Thank you Joel for this brilliant and well-written work. Thank you for sharing this to us. ~Nenita~
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