|
|
Dear Editor,
I am astonished at the letter by Liz Walsh (Can Islamic societies enlighten us on Sharia law, Sept 11) as she fails entirely to differentiate between Sharia and cultural practices of a country.
Firstly it is worth pointing out that at present there is not even a single Muslim country where Sharia is wholly implemented. In every case there is a partial implementation of Sharia combined together with various cultural practices and customs of that country, despite the fact that many of those practices are clearly prohibited in Islam. This is a fine example of culture taking precedence over religion. As far as ‘honour killings’ are concerned, there is absolutely no basis for it in Islam.
Secondly the rights granted to women by Islam 1400 years ago were unheard of in the non-Muslim world until quite recently. Islam granted women the right to divorce, inheritance, ownership and use of property as she wills, voting, taking public offices, scholarship, etc when only a couple of hundred years ago a woman required a co-signature of her father or husband in order to simply obtain a mortgage in this country.
Perhaps Liz Walsh should objectively study
Islam and not make a decision based on her observance of the practices of
a people and their culture as they themselves may be ignorant of the
teachings of Islam.
Yours,
Hasan
Abdullah
Director of Public Relations Islam Awareness Campaign (IACN)
|
Copyright © Islamic Affairs Central Network (IACN). All rights reserved. No part of this website may be reproduced or copied in any form, by any means (electronic, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior permission of IACN.