SHOULD THE QU'RAN BE IN THE COURTROOM?

Wilmington Journal ^ | 8/06/05 | CASH MICHAELS

[Libloather]

If you're in an Iranian courtroom, do they allow you to swear in on a Bible?

[MikefromOhio]

If you're in an Iranian courtroom, do they allow you to swear in on a Bible?

Are we more free and better than the Iranians?

[F14 Pilot]

Yep!

[Prime Choice]

But what if a witness or juror isn’t a Christian? What if he is a Jew or a Muslim? Both groups have their own books of faith, their own symbols of religious truth.

How about if the witness is a Satanist and thinks lying is just his master's way of getting cheap jollies?

Hell, what if the witness is an atheist? Is he supposed to swear to tell the truth while putting his hand on a copy of "Atlas Shrugged"??

Or worse, what if the witness is a Democrat and believes that nobody really knows what the definition of "is" is?

It boggles the mind why we should cater to fringe groups. Sheesh...

[Libloather]

Doesn't the Qu'ran advocate lying to your enemies?

[Lorianne]

If I'm ever called to testify, I will request swearing my oath on a box of Godiva chocolate while saying: "I lie I will never eat another piece of chocolate again, so help me God."

[sourcery]

If you're in an Iranian courtroom, do they allow you to swear in on a Bible?

Is that the relevant question? It's not a contest to see whose "holy book" gets used. The point is to maximize the probability that the witness tells the truth. Would a muslim feel greater motivation to tell the truth by swearing on a Bible or on a Koran? That's the only issue that matters.

[MikefromOhio]

I believe so yes...

but if they swear on a Qu'ran, they are bound by that oath I believe...

Honestly it is a moot point. either include them or don't, but let's not totally change both 230 years of tradition nor our fundamental rights for any one group or people.

They are free to be whatever religion they wish. I think that if they want to swear on a Qu'ran in a courtroom, there should be one there....

I don't know why there is such an issue over it.

[Prime Choice]

Doesn't the Qu'ran advocate lying to your enemies?

As a matter of fact, it does. According to the Q'uran, you can lie, cheat, steal, kill, rape and leave the toilet seat up, provided you only do it to the infidel. (And you are forbidden to turn in your Muslim brethren...even if you know they are rapists, murderers and/or terrorists.)

[F14 Pilot]

they have something called Taqqiya. It means Lawful Lie

[clee1]

No... it should be restricted to the pig pen.

[Blood of Tyrants]

Do we want to allow them to swear by a document (Koran) that tells Muslims that it is okay to LIE to a non-Muslim? For that matter, why should anyone believe ANYTHING that comes out of a Muslim's mouth except when they say that they are ging to kill you?

[Michael Barnes]

I've been thinking about this one..When the toilet paper is introduced into the courtroom, how long is gonna be before a Christian swears upon the bible against a muslim that swears upon the toilet paper? I can already hear it now (doesn't matter which side the muslim or Christian is on); muslim's lawyer asks the Christian to also swear upon the toilet paper. Christian says no? Well now, that should make for an interesting trial no won't it (and I am talking of trial by public opinion)? cair will be howling from the rooftops about an unfair trial based on religion.

You heard it here first (unless of course another freeper beat me to it).

I look forward to the holes in my thesis BTW..

[jwalsh07]

Actually, thats not the constitutional issue. The constitutional issue is whether or not the state is establishing A religion by requiring only the Bible to be used in sweraing in witnesses. I think the answer to that question is a resounding yes and thus it's unconstitutional.

[Blood of Tyrants]

Read my post #12.

[TheForceOfOne]

Anyone who would swear unto the Qu'ran would do so with a belief in it which means that they would not be obligated to tell the truth to us because we are the Infidels to them and it is okay to lie to us.

Hell no, just ask them to tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth under penalty of the United States justice system and make them acknowledge that if they commit perjury they will be penalized under American law.

It's that simple.

[quantim]

I'm not so sure what 'book' one swears on is important. What is important is what book is important to the jurors.

Oath on the Quran? "The jury finds the defendent mohammed abdul guilty as charged your honor!"

Funny how the world works.

[airborne]

My soon to be ex swore on a bible and then lied.

It doesn't matter what God you swear to.

If you're a liar, then you're a liar!

[ArmyTeach]

True. And if they object to the Bible, they still have the option of affirming and raising their right hand.

[sourcery]

How about if the witness is a Satanist and thinks lying is just his master's way of getting cheap jollies?

There are things you can do to increase the probability that a witness will tell the truth, but you can't guarantee it. Swearing on a Bible (or other holy book) may be effective in some cases, but obviously not in others. Jurors and judges should always maintain a reasonable degree of skepticism about the truthfulness of any witness.