One Law for all in Britain
- Details
- Published on Thursday, 26 November 2009 00:12
- Written by Bill Broderick
- Hits: 1879
Liberal people in many countries have bought into the idea that Islam is a religion of peace and goodness which seeks only acceptance and tolerance within non-Muslim countries. Anyone who cautions against allowing Muslims too free a reign with their many traditional customs is termed an Islamophobe and may well find himself brought up before a Human Rights Commission to answer for whatever he has been saying or writing.
The new Discover Canada citizenship guide for potential immigrants is very frank about what is expected of those who apply for citizenship in this country. It flatly declares that men and women are equal under the law in Canada, that new Canadians may not discriminate on the basis of gender or engage in "barbaric" cultural practices such as female genital mutilation and honour killings. The guide warns that those guilty of such crimes are severely punished under Canada's criminal laws.
England is the land of the Magna Carta, the Great Charter from which English-speaking countries derive their concepts of human rights and freedoms. Unfortunately, government leaders in some countries, including England, have backed away from insistence that newcomers respect the traditional rights of English-speaking peoples and seem to be willing to allow extremist Muslims in particular the freedom to practice customs that conflict with English law, especially those that relate to Sharia and gender discrimination.
Ontario narrowly escaped giving recognition to Sharia law on September 8, 2005, when Premier Dalton McGuinty and Attorney General Michael Bryant were prevailed upon to reverse a decision to allow binding arbitration under Sharia law. Instead, binding arbitration under all forms of religious law was outlawed with the Premier announcing that there will be one law for all Ontarians.
In Britain this last week, November 21st was a day to oppose Sharia law while standing up for human rights. Under the "One Law for All Campaign," a rally was held in Hyde Park, London, to oppose religious laws in Britain and to show solidarity with people living under and resisting Sharia, and to defend universal rights and secularism.
Simultaneous acts of solidarity and support for the rally and its aims took place in countries in Europe, Africa, the Middle East, North and Central America, Australia and elsewhere.
One Law for All spokesperson Maryam Namazie, prominent opponent of Sharia, commented: "Sharia law is becoming a key battleground because it matters to people everywhere, because it adversely affects the rights, lives and freedoms of countless human beings across the world. Opposing Sharia law is a crucial step in defending universal and equal rights and secularism and showing real solidarity with people living under and resisting it everywhere. November 21st is yet another important day for further strengthening the mass movement needed that can and will put a stop to Sharia once and for all."
The One Law for All Campaign website is www.onelawforall.org.uk.
Bill Broderick is a director of Humanist Canada and chair of Humanist Quinte. Meetings are in Room P-22, Loyalist College, fourth Sunday of each month, 1:30 p.m.. He can be reached at
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
.