Toleration and Islamic Law ( archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams )

Opinion Journal ^ | February 12, 2008 | DAVID B. RIVKIN, JR. and LEE A. CASEY

[george76]

The archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, earned an unusual rebuke from British Prime Minister Gordon Brown last week for suggesting that some version of Islamic -- "Shariah" -- law would inevitably be introduced in Britain.

Even in rejecting the idea, however, Mr. Brown noted that some aspects of Shariah could be accommodated on a "case-by-case" basis.

This exchange highlights an issue that is fast reaching a boiling point in Britain and other Western countries with increasingly assertive Muslim communities. Can a modern democracy house more than one legal system, even on a limited basis, and remain a democracy as we have come to understand that term over the past two centuries?

there is a critical difference between permitting some flexibility for religious practices within the larger society and ...

One thing is certain. A constitutional and legal system that does define rights based upon community identification, rather than individual citizenship, will not be democracy as we have known it.

The direct and equal status of each individual citizen before the law was arguably the 18th century's greatest constitutional innovation...

Permitting any portion of the body politic to have its legal rights defined by community, rather than citizenship, would be a giant step backward.

[Proud_USA_Republican]

Mr. Brown noted that some aspects of Shariah could be accommodated on a "case-by-case" basis.

Sharia law is 12th century savage law. THere is nothing to accommodate when it comes to that savagery in a democratic western world. The muslims don't like it, go move to an islamic country thats ruled by Sharia law.

[pankot]

“A house divided against itself cannot stand”

[silverleaf]

And we have all come to know that muslims are tolerant peaceful diversity-hugging types who are willing to accept a “case by case” basis for practicing their religious law!

Muslims: Can we cut off hands for theft?
Archbishop Rowan: (well, no)

Muslims: How about just amputating the right hand?
Archbishop Rowan:(well, maybe just a good THWACK with a ruler on the knuckles of the right hand)

Muslims: How about stoning then? A good stoning for adultery? Your own Ten Commandments says this is a big SIN!
Archbiship Rowan: (well, maybe in some cases, if very small stones are used and proper safety gear is worn by all participants.....but no burying women up the their chests in the ground!)

Muslims: What about death for apostasy? beheading! This is what Allah has told the prophet pbuh!
Archbishop Rowan:(What is apostasy?)