Sharia law can be defined as a set of relilgious principles based on the Koran by which Muslims are required to live. Modern-day Iran, Lebanon, and Nigeria are some of the modern nations that use these laws ( Afghanistan had Sharia law under the Taliban.) Interestingly, a Chief Justice in Great Britain recently proposed the use of Sharia law in Britains' Muslim communities as a way to settle civil and domestic disputes. As we conclude our unit on Iran and prepare for upcoming units on Nigeria, England and Afghanistan the following articles pose interesting questions for comparative social science.
Directions:
1. Actively read the following articles
A) "Sharia law SHOULD be used in Britain, says UK's top judge"By Steve Doughty Daily Mail Blogsite. July 4, 2008:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1031611/Sharia-law-SHOULD-used-Britain-says-UKs-judge.html
B) "Sharia law incompatible with human rights legislation, Lords say" by Afua Hirsch. UK Guardian, October 23, 2008:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/oct/23/religion-islam
2) Watch the Frontline clip linked below (it is only two minutes) on Sharia law in Nigeria and one Nigerian's views on the system:
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/muslims/portraits/nigeria.html
Summarize the main ideas of all three sources. Evaluate the arguments for and against Sharia legal systems as presented in the articles. Then, consider all you have learned from this assignment and our current unit in Iran to present your own opinion on Sharia law in the modern world.Your post should be at least 250 words and include a response to at least one other classmate, on this or another block's blog.
Work due Wednesday, November 5 (same day as test on US and Iran)
Please remind your loved ones to vote!
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9 comments:
The three articles given in the assignment give off different vibes about Sharia Law. Sharia Law is mostly used by Islamic followed countries - Afganistan, Saudi Arabia ,etc-. "Sharia law SHOULD be used in Britain, says UK's top judge"By Steve Doughty -Daily Mail Blogsite- is about Lord Chief Justice Lord Phillips, The most senior judge in England. He feels that Islamic Sharia law can be helpful in family and marital arguments and for regulating finance. The jugdge does not find it very "radical". However, the english people are totally against it ,with the impression that it will probably lead to Islamic idiology in all aspects of British life. The British women fear that their rights and priveldges will be taken away if the Sharia Law is followed in Britian. In addition, "Sharia law incompatible with human rights legislation, Lords say" by Afua Hirsch discusses the same issue. The article tells a story about a Lebonese woman who fled to the U.K to avoid Sharia Law. The woman claims that her husband has physically abuse her, including throwing her off a balcanoy. The woman ran to U.K for asylum because by Sharia Law , she has to hand custody of her 12 year old son to the father, her ex husband. One sharia law is that when the child is over seven, the father has custody over him/her. This is unfair. The Sharia Law demostarted in Lebonon is pro-male and active in a male dominent society. It's wierd and ironic how the British judge supports this law for Britian. The frontline clip, " Why Harsh Sharia Law Returned to Nigeria" , somewhat contrast both articles. This clip shows a Nigerian family that accepts Sharia Law in their lives. The father of the house and attorney , Muzzammil Sani Hanga says that the west doesn't like the Sharia law because they are so concered with indivisual freedom instead of limiting the amount of crimes occuringin its presence. The father says that he does not need to lock his door in fear of criminals because they are scared of the consequences they will face if they commit the crime by the Sharia Law. He says they can sleep without fear.
I think that the judge in the first article is crazy for thinking that a dominant Christian country would ever follow or accept the Sharia Law. Its like putting a city girl in a farm or a fish on land. The Sharia Law in the second article is unfair . The mother gives birth to the child; its unjust for the custody of the child to go to the father, especially after all he has done to the mother. I can not see that happening in America. So far, 5 out of 6 jugdes think the woman should be allowed to stay in the U.K with her son and thats what she's been doing. Even though it was not mention, I do not think the husband was punished for his domestic crimes. I somewhat support the Nigerian man in the Frontline clip just from his own defense of the laws. In his life, the man has protested that it has kept his life and the life of his family safe.
Sharia Law is not for the world; only parts of it. The parts that are already following it. If you oppress the laws on western parts of the world; they will rebel against the government. The UN should try to make the Sharia Laws , women- friendly in countries that accept it. It is too harsh. In any democracy, the country needs to vote if they want to follow the laws and if they support it, they would need to follow it gradually. Its too much to take in at one time.
Ian Murphy
Government
Block G
Muslims are required to live by the Sharia law in Iran, Lebannon, and Nigeria today. According to the Mail Online article "Sharia law SHOULD be used in Britain, says UK's top judge," Lord Chief Justice Lord Phillips of Great Britain proposed the use of said law to resolve disputes. This, of course, sparked a great deal of controversy from the citizens, who believe that the ideals of Islam would be forced onto them. The guardian.co.uk. article "Sharia law incompatible with human rights legislation, Lords say," in another example of rejection, claims a Lebonese woman fled to Great Britain for protection from the unfair, male-dominated aspects of the Sharia law, such as denied custody of her child in favor of her ex-husband. Considering the previous article, it is this very reason why the women of Great Britain appear to be among the most avid dissenters of the influence of the Sharia law in their country. In "Why Harsh Sharia Law Returned to Nigeria," it is shown that people in Nigeria accept the law to its fullest extent, as they feel well-protected by it. It could be safe to say the Sharia law has found a home in Nigeria. Considering all I have learned this year, the Sharia law should definitely not be forced onto any countries that find it unbearable to live with, as it would probably lead into governmental disarray. So it really all matters on the opinions of the citizens whether or not to accept the Sharia law as a part of their society.
Sharia law SHOULD be used in Britain, says UK's top judge discusses a decision made on July 3, 2008 by the most senior judge in England, to use the Sharia law to resolve disagreements between Muslims. The article furthers, saying that some think that using these laws would have an unfair disadvantage towards women, and that if these laws are used, any law that contradicts English law should not be used.
Sharia law incompatible with human rights legislation, Lords say had a different view point than the first article. This article feels more that the Sharia laws aren’t inline with human rights. The article justifies their thinking with a case of a Lebanese woman who moved to the UK as a way to avoid the Sharia law and give custody of her children to her husband or other male relatives. The man she would have to give custody to was a man that beat and attempted to strangle her, here in the United States, if a man who beat and tried to strangle his wife was battling for custody, hands down the wife would win.
I think that if a family or group of Muslims wants to use and abide by the Sharia laws it is up to them, just as people follow the Ten Commandments. I agree with Ian when he says that Sharia law shouldn’t be imposed on people and if people want to live by those laws and rules it’s totally there choice.
Queen Elizabeth II is Queen of the Commonwealth Realm:
1. United Kingdom
2. Canada
3. Australia
4. New Zealand
5. Jamaica
6. Barbados
7. The Bahamas
8. Grenada
9. Papua New Guinea
10. The Solomon Islands
11. Tuvalu
12. Saint Lucia
13. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
14. Antigua and Barbuda
15. Belize
16. Saint Kitts and Nevis
Apparently the UK stands for Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales, and England
In case you didn't notice, this post is by Astonn De Felice.
antigua and barbuda
new zealand
australia
papua new guinea
the bahamas
saint kitts and nevis
barbados
saint lucia
belize
saint vincent and the grenadines
canada
solomon islands
grenada
tuvalu
jamaica
united kingdom
I know you said that it's the four separate countries under the title United Kingdom but every site I found said there were sixteen with United Kingdom as one.
“Sharia law SHOULD be used in Britain, says UK's top judge” discusses a decision made on July 3, 2008 by Lord Chief Justice Lord Phillips of Great Britain. The choice was the Sharia law would be used to resolve disagreements between Muslims. The article later explains how some citizens believed that these laws would leave an unfair disadvantage for females.
The article “Sharia law incompatible with human rights legislation, Lords say” had a different political view than the previously mentioned article. This story expresses the idea that the Sharia laws do not fall in place with human rights. The reporter supports this idea with a case of a Lebanese woman who moved to the UK as a way to avoid the Sharia law and gave custody of her children to her husband as well as other male relatives. The man she would have to had given custody had previously beat and attempted to strangle her. In the United States, it is common for the victim of any crime case to win custody or prosper in the case.
In my opinion, the world should follow the freedom of America where we have the freedom and practice of religion. Therefore, If an Islamic family wants to follow the Sharia laws it shouldn’t cause chaos. In agreement with Ian, Sharia law shouldn’t be imposed on people and if people want to live by those laws and rules it’s totally there can individuals sole decision. Every individual for his or HER self.
Ann Morin Youssef
Block G
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