Your path to the water hole is deadly
Sharia, is an Arabic word denoting “path to the water hole.” This path might be the ‘whole way of life’ in an arid desert environment, but it is also the path to death.
Death through discrimination, torture, stoning, whipping, child marriages, rape, and so much more. Quite frankly, just being a female in countries were Sharia law operates, it seems you have very little freedom to do anything, without being oppressed, or worse, punished physically and mentally for your ‘crimes.’
As different cultures, ethnic groups and religions continue to live with one another, countries in the West are becoming as diverse as ever. There is a growing debate as to whether Sharia can coexist with secularism, democracy, or even in a modern society. I am frightened, for people, particularly women, who live in countries where Sharia law exists, and countries where Sharia law is trying to exist in a democratic and free country.
I’ve always been passionate about human rights, but I wasn’t quite aware of the scale of oppression that people face with Sharia law. Just think about how you currently live your life, and then read the list of ‘rules’ below, for those living under Sharia law.
- Homosexual intercourse is illegal, and leads to execution
- A women’s testimony is worth half that of a man’s in court
- A women’s inheritance, is always half that of a man’s
- If you are raped, you have committed adultery and are stoned to death. Rapists can escape punishment by marrying their victim. To prove rape, a woman must have 4 male witnesses
- Drinkers and gamblers are whipped
- Husbands can hit their wives
- An injured plaintiff can exact legal revenge. In 2003, a court in Pakistan, sentenced a man to be blinded by acid, after he carried out a similar attack on his fiance
- If you thieve, you must have a hand cut off
- Highway robbers, should be crucified or mutilated
- People who have sex without being married, are whipped
- A man has the right of up to 4 wives, and none of them have the right to divorce him
- A man is allowed to have sex with slave women and women captured in battle
- If you are a Muslim, or Non-Muslim and criticise Muhammad, the Quran, and even Sharia, you are sentenced to death.
Sharia ultimately degrades society and diminishes freedom. Some states in the US and countries are banning Sharia law. Alabama state, banned it only a few months ago, on 7 November 2014. However, it’s just the tip of the iceberg and much more needs to be done. There is a school of thought, that many Muslim women feel a Sharia council ban, would disempower them.
Perhaps education is the way forward, to better understand why some women feel this way. Sharia law is also extremely complicated, as there are many different schools of interpretation. Currently, anyone can set up a Sharia council and impose their own version of the rules. Somehow, the root cause needs to be treated and not the symptoms.
But things are being done about it. 21,445 people in the UK signed an e-petition in April 2014, to ban all Sharia law in the UK. This figure to me, seems like a drop in the ocean. If you, like I, are completely disgusted by this law, you can help do something about it. You can Like the Facebook page, Ban Islam and Sharia Law Worldwide, write your own blog post, and simply share information, as most people aren’t even aware of the severity. Inspire, is an organisation that seeks to address inequalities facing British Muslim women. One Law for All, is a campaign against Sharia law in Britain. Please research more, share this blog, leave your comments and get the message out there.
