[Dean's World] Dave Schuler: Why, Oh Why?

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Posted by Dave Schuler:
Why, Oh Why?
http://www.deanesmay.com/posts/1202426323.shtml


   I always hate to [1]read statements like this one from Rowan Williams,
   the Archbishop of Canterbury:

     The Archbishop of Canterbury says the adoption of certain aspects
     of Sharia law in the UK "seems unavoidable".

     Dr Rowan Williams told Radio 4's World at One that the UK has to
     "face up to the fact" that some of its citizens do not relate to
     the British legal system.

     Dr Williams argues that adopting parts of Islamic Sharia law would
     help maintain social cohesion.

     For example, Muslims could choose to have marital disputes or
     financial matters dealt with in a Sharia court.

     He says Muslims should not have to choose between "the stark
     alternatives of cultural loyalty or state loyalty".

     'Sensational reporting'

     In an exclusive interview with BBC correspondent Christopher
     Landau, ahead of a lecture to lawyers in London on Monday, Dr
     Williams argues this relies on Sharia law being better understood.

     At the moment, he says "sensational reporting of opinion polls"
     clouds the issue.

     He stresses that "nobody in their right mind would want to see in
     this country the kind of inhumanity that's sometimes been
     associated with the practice of the law in some Islamic states; the
     extreme punishments, the attitudes to women as well".

     But Dr Williams said an approach to law which simply said "there's
     one law for everybody and that's all there is to be said, and
     anything else that commands your loyalty or allegiance is
     completely irrelevant in the processes of the courts - I think
     that's a bit of a danger".

     "There's a place for finding what would be a constructive
     accommodation with some aspects of Muslim law, as we already do
     with some other aspects of religious law."

   if only because I know that in my role as member of the Watcher's
   Council, I'll be reading squeals of exaggerated outrage and
   accusations of dhimmitude, if not from my fellow Council members then
   from some of the non-Council posts that my fellow Council members will
   be submitting for consideration.

   I'm pretty sure that private agreements between individuals to
   arbitrate grievances and differences according to some mutually
   acceptable standard including Sharia law is completely consistent with
   British law. Having the civil authorities enforce such arbitrations
   probably isn't.

   As an American I'm not in any position to tell Britons what they
   should or should not do but my own private belief is that there should
   be one law for all Britons and those who aren't comfortable with that
   law should be free to seek a system that they relate to elsewhere.
   We've had our own experience with "separate but equal" and rejected
   it.

   Still, it would be nice if prudent consideration were to be given to
   how the United Kingdom can seek to assimilate its newer residents into
   the larger culture. Giving them the alternative to do things just
   exactly as they were done in the old country probably isn't the best
   choice.

References

   1. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7232661.stm