Suldaanka Posted February 12, 2008 Source As one who has been hauled in front of a Sharia court I would like to risk having my hand — or head — chopped off a second time by suggesting that the Archbishop of Canterbury just might have a point. My brush with Islamic justice occurred in December 2006 in Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia. A popular movement called the Islamic Courts Council (ICC) had recently seized control of the country, expelling feuding warlords who had made it a byword for terror over the previous 15 years. One afternoon Richard Mills, The Times photographer, and I were driving away from the infamous Bakara arms market. In a narrow, rutted sidestreet our way was blocked by an approaching vehicle. Neither driver would give way. A furious argument flared up, and our bodyguards drew their guns. Happily, ICC policemen arrived in the nick of time and escorted us all to the nearest Sharia court . We waited in the yard of an old police station. An alleged drug dealer lay on the ground on his stomach, his hands and legs bound together behind his back. Several wretched faces stared out from the dark interiors of cells with barred windows. A bunch of women engaged in some sort of domestic dispute arrived and waited patiently behind us. Finally the drivers, still arguing furiously, were each told to make their case to a couple of religious elders. They had barely begun before the court adjourned to a nearby carpet for sunset prayers. When it resumed, and both drivers had had their say, the court pronounced. The two men were ordered to apologise to each other and we were all dismissed. The court performed its duty with admirable dispatch and minimal fuss and everyone went away happy. It was quicker, cheaper and just as effective as a British magistrates’ court. The ICC is no more. Washington accused it of turning Somalia into a terrorist haven. It was replaced by a deeply unpopular Government of former warlords . Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Suldaanka Posted February 12, 2008 Anglican groups greet archbishop of Canterbury with standing ovation, backs his stand LONDON – Fellow Anglicans greeted the archbishop of Canterbury with a standing ovation Monday, despite his recent controversial statments about the role of Islamic law in Britain. Rowan Williams twice asked members of the Church of England's governing body, the General Synod, to stop clapping so he could begin his talk about the furious response to his advocating the incorporation of some elements of Shariah law into British society. Williams had been criticized by British media and politicians for his comments last week, in which he said that the introduction of parts of Islamic law, known as Shariah, were “unavoidable.” Even some Anglicans had called for his resignation. But speaking from the podium at Church House, near the British Parliament and Westminster Abbey, Williams strongly denied media reports that he was advocating a dual system of justice for Britain. “We are not talking about parallel jurisdictions,” he said. Williams said his words had been distorted but that he took responsibility for the lack of clarity in his pronouncements about Shariah in a radio interview and a speech. “I must, of course, take responsibility for any unclarity in either that text or in the radio interview, and for any misleading choice of words that has helped to cause distress or misunderstanding among the public at large and especially among my fellow Christians,” he said. Williams said in a British Broadcasting Corp. interview aired Thursday that some aspects of Shariah law, a venerable Islamic code of conduct, already fit easily within the British legal system, and he agreed when asked if its implementation was inevitable. Britain's media took the statement as broadly backing Shariah law, which delighted some British Muslims – and outraged almost everyone else. Bishop Stephen Lowe said after the speech that the long ovation was an indication of the strong backing Williams can expect from the membership of the synod, despite the controversy. “The respect with which he's held in the Church of England was reflected in the ovation and the applause at the end of his speech,” he said. “I think the speech ought to have quieted any of the criticism of the last few days.” However, Williams continued to receive harsh treatment in the press Monday. The afternoon London Lite newspaper published a string of negative comments from readers who believe Williams is proposing unwanted changes to Britain's judicial system Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Suldaanka Posted February 12, 2008 === Satire ==== Archbishop of Canterbury converts to Islam Dr Rowan Williams has failed to quell the row over his recent comments with the announcement that he has been fully accepted into the Muslim faith. He claims to see no inconsistency with his new religion and his continuing role as the leader of the Anglican faith. ‘Both religions are saying basically the same thing…’ said Rahman Muhammed bin-Williams as he now wishes to be known, ‘…and I hope to bring together two aspects of these two major world faiths. So we will still have the Church of England Christingle Jumble Sale. But instead of getting a jar of home made jam in the raffle, the winner gets to drive a car bomb into the American Embassy.’ Dr Williams has said that it is important for England’s established church to reflect the cultural and religious diversity within today’s Britain. This point was reiterated by the Rastafarian Bishop of Durham, who was later arrested when police became suspicious about the contents of his incense burner. This follows his controversial presentation of Sunday’s Songs of Praise with such classic hymns as ‘All things Bright and Beautiful’ and ‘I and I in a Babylon situation’ [ The Queen ] Dr Williams dismissed the latest controversy as he headed off to buy a glittery tissue box holder for the back of his car. ‘Let us not forget that as Archbishop of Canterbury I am not head of the Church of England. That priviledge remains with the Defender of the Faith, Her Majesty the Queen. Or Shariz –El- Izbeth as she now wishes to be known.’ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
xiinfaniin Posted February 12, 2008 Allow soo muslimi... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Paragon Posted February 12, 2008 Archbishop of Canterbury I am not head of the Church of England. That priviledge remains with the Defender of the Faith, Her Majesty the Queen. Or Shariz –El- Izbeth as she now wishes to be known.’ Lool. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
