DAR AL HARB - AUSTRALIA: SHARI'AH LAW IN AUSTRALIA

Board of imams not 'sharia' law
Nicolas Perpitch

THE creation of a WA board of imams to mediate between Muslims on civil disputes is not an attempt to introduce full sharia law, the Islamic Council of WA says.

The council began to set up the board following a recommendation at last September's conference of Australian imams in Sydney for national and state boards of imams.

The Islamic Council of WA's religious adviser, Abdul Jalil Ahmad, said individual imams had been providing advice on issues such as divorce and commercial and property disputes based on sharia law for years.

Mr Ahmad said a state body was needed to provide unified and clear decisions.

"We're not talking about full sharia law, sharia criminal law,'' Mr Ahmad said.

[Is that like being "a little bit pregnant?!?!? It is either shari'ah or it isn't ! ! ! ed. A.I.]

"We will deal with civil matters only, nothing to do with criminal matters, so there's nothing to be scared of.''

But Ethnic Communities Council of WA spokesman Suresh Rajan said it was dangerous to mix religion and civil law.

"Once you start to get into a legal system based upon religious principles, a greater risk of interpretational difficulties will come up,'' Mr Rajan said.

Mr Rajan said any board of imams would have to report to the federal attorney-general to ensure its resolutions did not conflict with Australian law.

"It may be a step in the right direction in formalising the process but we still need to have prudential controls to ensure it is not overstepping decisions of the civil court.

"And, let's be honest, sharia law in its extreme form can be quite barbaric.'' But Mr Ahmad said sharia law was often misunderstood.

"Sharia is very broad, it includes also the act of washing, we pray five times a day, that's part of sharia as well.''

Federal Attorney-General Philip Ruddock said a board of imams would be allowed to settle differences out of court but would not be allowed to pass judgment on disputes.


Stupid infidels for allowing this...


Pertinent Links:

1) Board of imams not 'sharia' law