In the Name of the Law: Collision inevitable between Sharia court and Canadian courts

The Calgary Sun ^ | December 8, 2003 | Ezra Levant

[quidnunc]

Ontario will soon have Canada's first Sharia court.

That is, a court where legal disputes are judged by Muslim imams according to the law of the Koran.

As its proponents describe it, the Sharia court will be a voluntary, private court. Non-Muslims, and Muslims who prefer Queen Elizabeth's laws to Mohammed's, can still go to regular courts instead.

But there is a new wrinkle. According to the Law Times newspaper, Ontario's Arbitration Act will apply to the Sharia court's judgments. Once the Sharia court issues a decision, it will be legally binding upon those who appeared before it. The Sharia court's decision will be enforced by the secular government of Ontario.

There are reasons to support such a system. The way it is described by its boosters, the Sharia court would deal primarily with business matters — presumably, criminal cases would still be decided in government courts according to Canadian law.

But if two Muslim businessmen agree to settle a private business dispute according to the Koran's rules, why not let them do so?

Such a localized, privatized, personalized approach to justice should appeal to libertarians — and to anyone else frustrated by the pace or cost of the public court system.

The fact that these Sharia judgments can later be enforced by Ontario's courts is not, by itself, alarming. Canadians already have the power to voluntarily bind each other with rules of their own making, even strange rules, and have a court enforce them.

It's called a contract.

But there are reasons to be wary of this Sharia court — or what it might evolve into. Because Sharia law does not just apply to business disputes; it also applies to divorce law, to criminal law and to laws of sexual purity and honour. Like the Bible, the Koran governs every aspect of life.

-snip-

[quidnunc]

Quote:

Devout Muslims — such as the Sharia court's imams — do not pick and choose from the Koran.

They believe in it all.

What do you think will happen — who do you think will yield — when the Sharia court inevitably collides with Canadian courts that increasingly believe in nothing?

This is the camel jockey's nose under the tent.

[OrioleFan]

How soon before they start cutting off peoples hands and feet and stoning people to death?

[polemikos]

The Sharia court's decision will be enforced by the secular government of Ontario.

Please Stand By.
Much high jinks to ensue
in the Great Islamic North!
Eh Allah?

[WHBates]

This is a joke right?

[pabianice]

More Canadian national suicide.

[Capt. Tom]

From Canada to Kanada to Qanada in my lifetime. -Tom

[banjo joe]

. Like the Bible, the Koran governs every aspect of life.

Except the Bible clearly teaches we have free will...

[50sDad]

So, we can expect the RCMP to hold the thief's arm down while the Islamist Facists cut it off? (Don't want to interfere with their quaint tribal customs, eh Hoser?)

[expatpat]

Yeah, 'collision' is not quite the right word when the extreme actions of Sharia collide with the liberal anti-punishment mores of the rest of Canada.

[doc30]

Just like how the recently elected Liberals of Ontario have eliminated all tax cuts made by the previous Conservative government, but introduced additional tax increases. Maybe it was to pay tribute to the Muslims to keep them from causing problems in the province.

[hosepipe]

Canada = a study in Neville Chamberlian politics on crack...

[doc30]

There is no collision. Moral relativism, political correctness and collective-white guilt will grant much leeway to the Islamo-facist way of life. Typical quotes will be "how can we criticize theri way of life?" or "what makes their system worse than ours?" as the honour killings and amputations progress.

[laotzu]

"From Canada to Kanada to Qanada in my lifetime"

Ya half to see it to believe it.

Virtually, Canada's entire national history summed up in one short sentence. Well said.