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News & Analysis
019/05  May 31, 2005



CAIR-CAN: Not Understanding Human Rights

     The Council on American-Islamic Relations-Canada (CAIR-CAN) has reacted to the Canadian National Assembly’s rejection of Islamic tribunals (application of Sharia law in family matters) in both Quebec and the remainder of Canada.

     According to CAIR-CAN’s executive director, Riad Saloojee:

"There really is a very meager understanding of exactly
what faith-based arbitration is all about.”

     But is this so?

     Let’s consider:

1.  There are many sects of Islam; each interprets the Sharia differently.  The question of whose version of Sharia is to be applied has not been answered.

2.  All versions of the Sharia have one thing in common: the rights of women are severely restricted; especially in cases of property, inheritance, and divorce/child custody.

3.  Islamic immigrants from many countries are at a decided disadvantage when entering a Western country.  The laws, customs, and people may seem very strange; in particular to Muslim women who may have had very limited contact with anyone outside the home.  If this woman agrees to arbitration under Sharia law, what guarantee does she have that it will be the same Sharia she knows from her homeland?


     Riad Saloojee had it wrong; Canadians do understand Sharia law and have made it very clear that they want no part of it.


     Let’s examine what we believe is the real reason CAIR-CAN is pressing for the application of Sharia family law in Canada:  The idea of Muslims assimilating into Canadian society would represent a loss of control that strikes fear into the hearts of those who abuse Islam as a means to control every aspect of a Muslims life.

     We’ve seen what this kind of thinking has created in Europe: Muslim ghetto’s in France, Italy, Sweden, and other European countries stand in silent witness to the evils that occur when a people refuse to integrate into mainstream society.
 
     In closing, let’s hear the words of warning from Fatima Houda-Pepin, a Canadian Muslim Liberal backbencher:
       
  "The application of Sharia in Canada is part of a strategy to isolate the Muslim community
so it will submit to an archaic vision of Islam. These demands are being pushed by groups in the minority
that are using the Charter of Rights to attack the foundation of our democratic institutions.
It's a political agenda in the name of Islam."


     Let us hope that all people are hearing the words of this brave Canadian elected official and paying close attention to her warning ...



Andrew Whitehead
Director
Anti-CAIR (ACAIR)
ajwhitehead@anti-cair-net.org
www.anti-cair-net.org



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