From the Australian Conservative.
A radical and dangerous change was proposed for Australia this week. A prominent Muslim leader called for parts of Islamic law (sharia) to be legally recognised in Australia.
The President of the Australian Islamic Mission, Zachariah Matthews, was speaking at what appears to be the heart of Islamic Fundamentalism in Australia, the Lakemba Mosque, last Saturday.
The Lakemba Mosque has been the forum for a number of speakers advocating or defending radical actions which does little to quash claims that some attendees are linked to the Taliban and Hamas terrorist groups.
Few Australians will forget Sheik Hilaly’s ‘uncovered meat’ defence of those convicted of the gang rape of a young Australian woman.
More recently, the conviction and sentencing of five men under Australian terror laws was ridiculed by a Lakemba mosque leader who made claims of bias and an anti – Islam ‘hysteria’ that would damage Australia’s international reputation.
Well, nothing would damage Australia’s international reputation, way of life and culture more than the introduction of sharia law.
We have a legal system that works perfectly well. It is built on common sense and the common good. It has shaped our values and our culture and is constructed in accordance with our Judeo-Christian heritage.
It now appears that some Australians don’t want to live within our laws. They want their own special rules – initially regarding family law and inheritance. It sounds innocent enough until you examine what has happened in other western nations where sharia law operates as a virtual parallel legal system.
In some cases, domestic violence claims have resulted in husbands being asked to take anger management classes rather than more appropriate sentencing. Sons are regularly favoured over daughters in inheritance disputes and some child custody matters can be determined solely by the father. Men can initiate and finalise divorce via text message
At its most extreme, sharia operates in a number of nations where homosexuality, blasphemy and adultery are punishable by death.
The European Court of Human Rights has determined that ’sharia is incompatible with the fundamental principles of democracy’.
On that basis alone sharia has no place in Australia – now or in the future.
Cory Bernardi is a South Australian Liberal senator. His columns and essays are available at his website.
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