IS SHARIA HARMLESS?
We keep being told by Islamic apologists that Sharia law is much misunderstood by us infidels and that it is in fact a very enlightened form of justice. As you know there is an active Islamic lobby that would wish to see Shar'ia law implemented in the UK. In some areas it already operates at low level.
So - wonder what you make of the news that a young man, a student of journalism, has been sentenced to death by an Islamic court for downloading a report from the internet. The sentence is then upheld by the country's rulers. The fate of Sayed Pervez Kambaksh has led to domestic and international protests. He was accused of blasphemy after he downloaded a report from a Farsi website which stated that Muslim fundamentalists who claimed the Koran justified the oppression of women had misrepresented the views of the prophet Mohammed. Mr Kambaksh, 23, distributed the tract to fellow students and teachers at Balkh University with the aim, he said, of provoking a debate on the matter.
Leaving aside the inherent anti-US bias in this report in the Independent, surely it is just one more instance of how Islamic law and modern democracies are entirely incompatible? Can you imagine how Shar'ia law would roll back every form of liberal values imaginable. I imagine the Graham Norton Show would struggle to get to air, don't you? And yet, oddly enough, many western liberals appear content to run with the idea of tolerating Sharis law! Is it because their uberliberalism has stopped them from seeing that Shar'ia is a threat to us all, but most particularly, to them?
David Vance
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Ah yes, it's modern, moderate, democratic Afghanistan! Thank you, George Bush!
That is exactly why there is no such thing as moderate islam. It's because islam is not moderate. Even when the taliban are toppled, there is no respite for those oppressed by islam.
"That is exactly why there is no such thing as moderate islam. It's because islam is not moderate."
Who wrote the report he downloaded? Was it buddhists?
What I find very interesting is that all the condemnation I've heard over this case and also the Malaysian kids' book censorship case has come from non-Muslims. Where are the moderate Muslims we've heard so much about from the mainstream media? Why aren't they speaking out against the Islamofascists?
Crimson Wife,
Thanks for commenting - maybe those moderates don't actually exist!! Gulp.
Crimson Wife,
"What I find very interesting is that all the condemnation I've heard over this case and also the Malaysian kids' book censorship case has come from non-Muslims. Where are the moderate Muslims we've heard so much about from the mainstream media?"
What religion is Sayed Pervez Kambaksh? Is he a Methodist?
Also, try clicking on the link to the article and the link on that page which contains the word 'Afghan Protest'. What is the religion of those protestors? Would they be hindus?
It's really not hard to find the moderate Muslims if you actually want to listen to them.
One the streets of the Afghan capital last night, public opinion on the fate of Sayed Pervez Kambaksh was divided. Residents of Kabul are invariably more secular than people in rural areas but, even so, they have mixed views on whether Mr Kambaksh deserves to die.
Madina, a 17-year-old journalism student at Kabul University, said that his execution would represent a terrifying return to Taliban-style injustice, and urged the courts to pardon her fellow student.
She said: "They should forgive him. He is young. He is a student. He just printed something off the internet – he should not lose his life. We should not go back to the Taliban times. We should think of something new, we should engage with him, we should talk to him and listen to his opinion."
Metra Khonari, a 20-year-old flight attendant, said the case offered a chance to overhaul the legal system. "In a free country, everyone should have the right to criticise religion," she said. "We shouldn't go backwards. Conservative people should not be allowed to victimise the young. It was not a fair trial, the court was not free and he didn't have a proper defence." Under the oppressive Taliban regime Ms Khonari would have been banned from working. She added: "We should reform our justice system because most of the judges have been educated in madrassas. They have not had a proper, modern education."
Mr Kambaksh's plight has been widely reported in the Afghan media, and everyone you meet seems to have an opinion.
Najibullah, a 25-year-old Kabul shopkeeper, said: "He just shared an article with his friends. He didn't write it, so what's the problem?"
Sale Mohammed, a 19-year-old student, said it was up to human rights groups to intervene. "I really disapprove of the court's decision," he added. "He just wanted to show his friends what he had found in a report. I want the human rights commission to help us to release him."
Mir Ahmadi Joyinda, an Afghan MP, said: "It is unacceptable and unbelievable. We have laws about the media but he did not have a fair trial. We want him released."
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/afghan-protest-he-just-shared-an-article-with-friends-whats-the-problem-776784.html
There's clear evidence in the Old Testament that blasphemy is punishable by death, LEVITICUS 24:16 STATES THAT THOSE WHO SPEAK BLASPHEMY "SHALL SURELY BE PUT TO DEATH".
However, there is no clear evidence in the Koran that blasphemy is punishable by death and never was the punishment of death inflicted upon those who committed blasphemy during Prophet Muhammad's rule, although many people did commit blasphemy during his life to try to insult Islam and him.
The following Qur'anic verses appear to suggest that there is no worldly punishment for blasphemy, controverting the notion that blasphemy is punishable by death:
“ When ye hear the signs of Allah held in defiance and ridicule, ye are not to sit with them unless they turn to a different theme. [Qur'an 4:140] ”
“ And when they hear vain talk, they turn away therefrom and say: "to us our deeds and to you yours; peace be to you. [Qur'an 28: 55] ”
“ Hold to forgiveness, command what is right; but turn away from the ignorant. [Qur'an 7:199] ”
“ Have patience with what they say, and leaves them with noble (dignity). [Qur'an 73:10] ”
“ And the servants of Allah . . . are those who walked on the earth in humility, and when the ignorant address them, they say 'Peace' [Qur'an 25:63] ”
“ Allah is with those who restrain themselves. [Qur'an 16: 128] ”
“ . . . But they uttered blasphemy . . . if they repent, it will be best for them, but if they turn back, Allah will punish them." [Qur'an 9:47]
Very nice Amro. What about 8:12?
http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/quran/008.qmt.html#008.012
Remember thy Lord inspired the angels (with the message): "I am with you: give firmness to the Believers: I will instil terror into the hearts of the Unbelievers: smite ye above their necks and smite all their finger-tips off them."
You could interpret blasphemy as unbelief.
And perhaps you could explain the punishment for apostasy for a sane male apostate?