Sunday 22 April 2012

Scaring People About Sharia Law Has No Basis

Like Jews who abide by the Mosaic Law, Muslims abide by Sharia Law. Muslims use the Quran and Sunnah (Muhammad’s way of life) as codes of conduct, and when followed, this is called Sharia Law.

With headlines reading out about Sharia Law and some extremists calling for it, Sharia Law sounds somewhat scary. It has led many people to think that Sharia Law is indeed, taking over the law of the land. But people fail to recognize that it is extremely difficult to implement in the UK in the first place. People who promote this myth (like the EDL) have a limited understanding of how British laws are produced and ratified.

The legislative process

A law starts its life as a Bill, either introduced by the government (a government sponsored Bill) or introduced by an MP in the House of Commons or a Peer in the House of Lords (a private member’s Bill.) All Bills have to pass through both the House of Commons and the House of Lords. It’s finally made an Act of Parliament by the Queen giving it her Royal Assent.

The Bill goes through many readings, Committee stages and reporting stages, which is analyzed, discussed and agreed upon by MP’s and others in the House of Commons and the House of Lords, before being given the Monarch’s Royal Assent.

The problems

1. The MP problem

A Bill would have to be drafted by an MP who supported the introduction of Sharia Law. This MP’s election to the House of Commons is itself predicated on being elected by voters who themselves wanted Sharia Law. As of 2010 there are 8 Muslim MPs out of a total of 650 MPs in the House of Commons, so there’s barely any chance of that happeninh, especially as  there have been 0 MPs who have proposed Sharia Law as of 2010.

2. The Drafting problem

Departmental Select Committees, or Joint Committees of Lords and MPs have an early influence on drafted Bills and as of 2010, there have been none of them who have been willing to draft a Bill supporting Sharia Law.

3. The Voting problem

If the Bill got past the Drafting and First Reading process, it would need to be debated and passed on to go to the next stage. As of 2010, not one politician has proposed or voted for Sharia Law, so its unlikely it will be voted on and passed through by the majority of politicians in the House of Lords and House of Commons.

4. The Royal Assent problem

To become an Act of Parliament the Bill must be given Royal Assent. The reigning monarch would have to agree with Sharia Law. But that’s highly unlikely of happening, especially if she’s a Christian.

Its so difficult to get Sharia Law as the Law of the UK, its practically impossible!

  • Sharia Law does not apply to non-Muslims, even in Sharia Law courts
  • Muslims personally abide by Sharia wherever they may be in the world, so its not merely a political force the EDL and anti-Islamic critics like to make it out to be

Further Reading:

Making Laws
Could Sharia law become UK law?

4 comments:

  1. OH NO SHARIA IS COMING26 April 2012 at 18:05

    Tommy R, and his cronies like Spencer, Gellar etc. are pure scarymongers!

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  2. Please can you get other sites like EDLNews and Liverpool anti-facists to display this as I think it is very important for people to know. Also, another thing about Sharia is that there is a difference between Sharia and Sharia LAW. Sharia, is something muslims MUST abide by such as giving to charity, being a good neighbour, father, brother, husband, friend etc.

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  3. Sharia law, I gather, is sometimes used in Britain, by muslims who choose to use it as a means of dispute resolution. Where you and I have a private dispute, it is for us to decide how we should settle it. Before we go running to the English law courts, they will want to see that we have tried to settle the matter by some other, fair means. Alternative Dispute Resolution is very common in Britain now, ACAS provide an arbitration and concilliation service for instance. Muslims are free to choose Sharia as a means of dispute resolution, but it can never trump the English courts in say, criminal law. One criticism I have heard is that Sharia can be quite sexist, in favour of men, but I have no evidence of this.

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    Replies
    1. Muslims are even taught to obey the laws of the land, hence, they have to abide by the rules of authority.

      Yes some have said it can be sexist. But then again, what is and what isn't Sharia is yet to be decided. There is no book of Sharia that countries follow, everyone has their own interpretations.

      I'm a Muslim, and I hate sexism of any kind. Many people I know are very active in working to stop sexism too. But all of us I think need to look away from such bigot groups like the EDL and focus on working together. Only then I think, will people tackle problems prevalent in our world. Through unity and peace.

      Delete