Many have pointed out that this is not really that big a deal, and that Sharia courts for private arbitration are no different from courts that judge according to Jewish law, as goes the comparison in this article (thanks to Jeffrey Imm for the link), or any other private, voluntary association.
It is the nature of Sharia that raises questions. The Jewish court, the article tells us, "deals with monetary, business and family disputes, but no criminal matters." But Sharia does deal with criminal matters. Who will decide, then, what elements of Sharia will come under the purview of these courts, and which won't? How will this decision be made? And once made, will it not be subject to revision in the name of multiculturalism, tolerance, and freedom of religion — resulting in an ever wider sphere of influence for Sharia?
Maybe that won't happen. But it would be reassuring to see from Canadian authorities some clear and satisfactory answers to such questions.
Toronto, ON, Apr. 28 (UPI) -- Muslims in the Canadian province of Ontario can soon turn to settling disputes in their own courts, known as sharia, the Washington post reported.Muslim promoters of sharia arbitration said no cases have yet been decided but the process is set. Islamic leaders created an Islamic Court of Civil Justice last fall and it has chosen arbitrators who have undergone training in sharia and Canadian civil law.
"People can agree to resolve disputes any way acceptable," said Brendan Crawley, a spokesman for the Ontario Attorney General's office said in an interview. He said the arbitration act has a number of safeguards, including the requirement that parties enter into arbitration only on a voluntary basis, and any decisions by arbitrators are subject to court ratification.
Jewish courts, using similar methods, have long been operating in Ontario. Such a court, called a Beit Din, deals with monetary, business and family disputes, but no criminal matters.
In general in the USA or Canada a Beit Din or other abritration body can only have a binding power if all parties agree to hold to the result. I can't imagine an Islamic court in Canada would be any different. So it will deal with things like divorce and buisness arguments and the like.
Ahhh, good! I figured you would find that article quickly enough. Mr Imm must watch the news like a hawk.
Where I live, in Sudbury, Ontario, we have quite an ethnic mix, due to the fact this is a mining town. Just about every branch of Christianity you can name is located here. As of yet I haven't come across any Synagogues...
But there is One (so far as I can tell) Mosque, located just a few hundred yards from where I live. I will be curious to see where a Sharia court would be convened, within the Mosque, or will they be given access to a government building?
My wife said something the other day: 'Aren't you glad we are so far out in the country?' This city is bordering on the wilderness... but it is not seeming far enough away, in my OP.
Just wait, Gary, for the muezzin's call to prayer five times a day. Then you'll KNOW that Canada's multi-culti lunacy has made it up north to enrich your otherwise bland lives.
/sarcasm off
Zachary:
I'm sure you're right about the Sharia courts dealing with divorce law, etc. Of course, Islamic divorce law is grossly unfair, so that's not much consolation.
I have to disagree otherwise, though; I believe that even if criminal "justice" is not yet applied by these tribunals, it will eventually be brought under that jurisdiction in the insular, non-integrated Muslim community.
And as for both parties having to agree to use the Sharia, I imagine that female parties wouldn't have much choice. A vicious man can do a lot of "convincing" behind closed doors before the trial.
Even though this sharia court will only apply to Muslim Personal Law such as divorce and child custody cases, etc., it is untrue that such laws won't impact the non-Muslim publication.
Muslim personal law is very unfair to women in matters of child custody, divorce settlements and inheritance, etc.
The result will be an increase in destitute divorced women for whom the welfare state will have to take responsibility, many with no education or job skills as they will have been housewives with large families.
How do I know this? Look no further than India, a "secular" state which foolishly has allowed sharia and Muslim Personnel Law for years.
Destitute Muslim widows and divorcees are a huge social problem there, so much so that some Muslim and Indian women's groups are now trying to challenge the laws through India's secular supreme court.
Oh foolish Western nations that bend over backward to accommodate Islam -- all you have to do is look at the history of those that have gone before you to see where your future lies.
Unwise and so unfair to those Muslim women who have no idea that in the Western legal system they would be able to fight for alimony, child custody, child support, etc or those women who are pressured to do to such a court ......this way the taxes paid by the West get to support these disgarded women living under Sharia - this allows Muslim men a free ride at tax payer expense!
Why is this being allowed in the first place?
jihan
STUPID! STUPID!
I have seen many debates on Canadian
TV and there is a problem with which definition
of Sharia law will be imposed.Several Mosques
in Ontario and Toronto isolate the females to
their own enterance and prayer area. Some Islamic websites in Canada hint at their goal to make
the country an Islamic state. The separate court system is just one of the subtle changes towards this agenda,Islamophobia is the newest catchword to justify the introduction of Islamic teachings
is schools. www.canadianislamiccongress.org lists one of the beliefs in Islam is that all people are born Muslims and must seek Allah through the Quran,and those that don't follow this rule are the enemies of Islam. www.muslimcanadiancongress.org also states their goal is to make Canada a more Islamic based country by pushing for peace and justice according to the Quran.They also advocate a hatred of Americans and any form of capitalism that doesn't share the riches(Like Saudi Arabia I guess) with those that choose to make school a career or even raising kids on the public purse. Don't be fooled buy this ruse of fighting for equality and fairness,a Toronto Mosque is now financially supporting the Khadr family under the guise of charity.
When does voluntary cease to be so and become compulsory? Always look to the fine print. Sooner or later voluntary will become compulsory.
I hope that Canadians will be vigilant and prevent Sharia from taking precedence. Sooner or later the creep of Islamization might overtake Canada and Muslims seem to be very "persuasive." Good luck, Canada.
CAIR (Council on American Islamic Relations) is one of the worst enemies to freedom. They claim that they are a civil rights organization but they are really only a front to terrorist organizations. Some of their directors have already been arrested on terrorism charges. Their website has alerts for members to take action like write letters and send e-mails to those who they disagree with and even attack politically and or try to get them fired. Islam is not really a true religion, it is a perversion and militant Islam is really a hard core political party. Our governments try to be politically correct and they let the fanatics have a free ride at the expense of every one els's freedom. They demand rights but scream bloody murder when we take a hard look at them. They demand rights to put up their mosques in
Candada and America but they do not allow church's to be built in their countries. Are their belif's really so fragile that they have to kill a believer who wants to convert from Islam to a different religion? We give them freedom and rights only at our own expense and peril. If they hate us and our governments and our coutries so much then why dont they just go back to one of the backward countries where they came from? The reason is because they are a cancer within our societies and they can do more damage to us by being here and preaching hate. I look forward to the day when most of us freedom loving people wake up and take hard and strong action against them.
I would like to add to the comment on Cair
USA,the Canadian chapter(caircan.ca) is just as bad for paranoia and denial.There was a series of
antisemitic attacks in Toronto and later a small
vandalism related damage to a Mosque in Pickering
Ontario(check CAIR's archives for "Demand for hate crime investigation by local Mosque") and CAIR Canada's website mitigated the antisemitism
as Vandalism and yet stated the Mosque damage as
a hate crime. The CAIRcan website also encourages
Muslims to email a Canadian University to ban a
Jewish Student Body that is unliked by the Palestinian Student Body. CAIR Canada has brought the middle east issue to our soil and scream
"Victim" at any point possible. The University of Toronto P.E. department posted a notice on their website that non-Muslims must dress modestly
to use the gyms as to make Muslim female students
sense a spirit of inclusion so more turn out for
sports.
The item buy Gary Brockman isn't unfounded,Cair
Canada states its job is to educate Canadians and
Muslims about Islam to build a more tolerant
society for peace and justice.The really frightening part of Islam is that it's based on
everyone else being the bigot and ungodly enemy
of Allah.
I have searched Islamic web pages in North America and the Middle east,there is a pattern
that Muhammad's polygamy and sex with a child
is kept out of the Western knowledge,even the middle east sites use an Arabic only biography
to learn of his acts of murder and sinfulness.
I have been writing to my local MP and MPP expressing my opposition to the "Islamic Institute of Civil Justice" and encourage all other Canadians to do likewise. Muslim law is inherently unfair to women and the introduction of sharia is being opposed by the Canadian Council of Muslim Women...they should know what sharia would mean!
Canada is a secular country and will remain that way!
Richard (Toronto, Canada)