By Nahla Mahmoud
Focusing on Islam and Sharia as such here is mainly because of my experience living under an Islamic
regime. However, I strongly oppose Sharia law as well as any other religious based laws because I deeply
believe in secular, humanist values which put each human being on an equal basis with every other individual.
International human rights are a testament to that principle and stand directly opposed to the discriminatory
practices enshrined in and justified by Sharia law.
It is important that we secularists demand not only a secular Britain, but also a secular Middle East, North
Africa, and world. Sharia as such is a law of a religion with state power in many regions around the
world. We have also witnessed in the last two years a grand hijacking by Islamists of the achievements of
civil society in the Middle East. Not only that, but here in Britain there are now 85 Sharia councils
implementing Sharia law on the streets of London, Birmingham, Bradford and elsewhere.
It is important for me to clarify what I mean by Sharia. To be precise, I am discussing the laws and
legislation which are already in practice in the UK and abroad, not theoretical or utopian ideas that only exist
in the minds of those who defend and are usually in favour of Sharia. The examples below include Islamic
laws in countries around the world that claim to be implementing Sharia — the right Sharia — and are
legislated based on the main sources in Islam, the Quran and Hadith, and sometimes in Fatwas. What is
clear from an anthropological perspective is that these interpretations are performed by those in power and as
a result the application and punishments associated with Sharia vary dramatically around the world.
1.) Women
Sharia discriminates against women (and Muslim women specifically): compared to feminist victories elsewhere,
women are still not considered equal in most Islamic settings. A woman's testimony is worthy half a man's
in Islam. She gets half the inheritance of her male siblings; a woman's marriage contract is between her
male guardian and her husband. A man can have four wives and divorce his wife by simple repudiation using
the word "Talig", whereas a woman must give specific reasons, some of which are extremely difficult to
prove. Child custody reverts to the father at a pre-set age, even if the father is abusive. Women who
remarry lose custody of their children.
These are real issues of inequality and discrimination that Muslim women face every day. I have personally
experienced some because according to the Sharia constitution in Sudan, I am only eligible for half of my
brothers' share of our inheritance and I need at least two women to one man to testify in court cases.
Other brutal examples end in punishment by stoning crimes such as Iranian Sakineh Ashtiani who was accused
of having a relationship outside of an 'Islamic contract marriage', or the public flogging of Sudanese Lubna
Hussein for her un-Islamic dress.
Another issue is marital rape, honour killings and domestic violence: in Pakistan, there are 300 cases of acid
burnt women with no charges pressed against their husbands. Here in the UK, a study reported by the One
Law for All campaign shows that 4 out of 10 women in Sharia court cases were party to civil injunctions
against their husbands. The One Law for All campaign as well as other groups like Secularism Is a Women's
Issue are among the frontline defenders campaigning against Sharia courts, fighting for women's rights and
demanding gender equality.
2.) Children
Sharia discriminates against children. Not only does it affect children when they are young, but the implications
will last their entire life. Top of the list is child marriage. Under Sharia law, a girl is eligible for marriage
as soon as a girl begins her first period. This makes it difficult to maintain a minimum age for girls to be
married. Considering there were at least five cases recorded in the London Borough of Islington (including
girls of only 9 years old), I wouldn't bother to count the number of child marriages in Islamic states
where it is legal.
Other discrimination against children that must be considered is the lack of exposure to different ideas and
thoughts. Children from an Islamic background are often taught to close their minds to new ideas and some
are brought up to hate their Jewish, Christian and Hindu classmates, as well as any gay students in their
class.
In addition to my own experiences at school in Sudan, one can grab any school curriculum from an Islamic
state see how it restricts critical thinking and any questioning of religious doctrine. Evolutionary theory is
banned from most educational systems in Islamic states, as it contradicts the creationist story in the Quran.
Sudanese professor, Faroque Ahmed Ibrahim, stated in his open letter that teaching evolution at University of
Khartoum was among the main reasons he was tortured and imprisoned by the Sudanese government.
Moreover, little girls are often taught from birth that they are 'lesser' human beings, which results in lower
self-esteem and lack of confidence later in life. It is however, the case with most other faith-based schools
and education including Christianity and Judaism which, sadly, have the same 'holy-centralised' ideology.
3.) Homosexuals
Sharia discriminates against homosexuals. On this particular issue, Islam, as well as Christianity and Judaism,
hold the same intolerant view. Homosexuality is forbidden in most Islamic states with punishments ranging
from a fine or public flogging to life imprisonment. Ten Islamic states impose a death penalty for
homosexuals, including Iran, Mauritania, Nigeria, Pakistan, Saudi-Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Iraq, Yemen and
some states in Malaysia. In 2011, governmental driven gangs have been killing gays across Iraq.
4.) Non-Muslims
Sharia discriminates against non-Muslims, including other sects within Islam such as Bahia's, Ahmadia's, and
Shia if under Sunni ruling government or the reverse. Under Sharia law, no one is allowed to force someone
to convert to Islam, however, someone who is born into an Islamic family will grow up with extreme social
pressure from their family. If this person wishes to convert to another religion or be an atheist, they are
often considered an apostate, which can be punishable by death. Non-Muslims are subjected to extra taxes
('Jezya') and are afforded fewer rights in civic and family matters. For example, non-Muslim men (except
Jewish and Christians) cannot marry Muslim women, while children of non-Muslim women cannot adopt their
religion. Serious violence has occurred targeted at non-Muslim minorities in Islamic countries, such as the
bombing of Coptic in Egypt or the attack of eight churches in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, in 2011 .Although
some of these groups operate as separate fundamental extremists who don't necessary represent mainstream
Islam or the ruling Islamic governments, these same groups operate in their territory and are protected by
the local governments.
5.) Non-Believers and Atheists
Sharia discriminates against non-believers, atheists and apostates. It truly disgusts me that apostasy and
blasphemy laws are still in practice in some regions of the world. Did you know that free thinking and
freedom of speech are a crime punishable by death, public flogging and imprisonment in the 21st century? I
have seared in my memory the brutal persecutions and executions of many atheists and scientists for the
simple crime of critical thinking.
Cases such as Iranian Ali Ghorabat for apostasy , Jafar Kazemi and Mohammad Ali Haji Aghaee for enmity
against God, Sudanese theologian Mahmoud M. Taha for his progressive Islamic views and Egyptian Nasr H.
Abu Zaid for his critical views on the Qur'an show the widespread persecution of people who dare to question
blind belief.
This is not a thing of the past: just this month Kuwait jailed Abdel Aziz Mohamed Albaz for criticizing
Islam, Saudi Arabia jailed Raif Badawi for his liberal views, Tunisian artist Nadia Jelassi is facing prison
for her 'un-Islamic' artistic pieces. Countries like Iran, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Sudan and Yemen implement
the death penalty for those who renounce or criticize Islam, but they also punish anyone who is progressive,
liberal or wishes to think freely and live a modern, 21st century life.
Being an atheist and an ex-Muslim should have been a private matter for me under a secular state.
However, under an 'Islamic Inquisition' as fellow secular campaigner Maryam Namazi describes, it became
necessary for dissenters, especially those who are persecuted, to publicly air our views and call for equal
treatment because this persecution will not end until we stand together and speak out. I chose to speak out
on Channel 4 and in many other venues in the UK because I cannot stand by and watch others suffer the
same discrimination and persecution that I faced. The current persecution of the five groups I discussed above,
both here in the UK and around the world, provide a duty for everyone to stand up for the simple principle:
all humans are equal.
For me, my atheism holds this broader meaning because I am taking a political stand to oppose mythology
and advocate for evidence-based science and critical thinking. My stand is a way of supporting freedom of
expression, freedom of religion or no-religion. I stand, indeed, for human rights in order to support equal
rights for all citizens despite our gender, age, sexuality, religion or ethnicity.
I believe this is everyone's battle, including progressive, secular and liberal Muslims. The right to live, think
and express freely your opinions is one of the great achievements of human civilization. These values belong
to all of us regardless of our background or geographical regions. We cannot limit these achievements to
'western values' or 'cultural sensitivity'.
We must each strongly and unequivocally demand one equal law for everyone – both in the UK and abroad. http://www.secularism.org.uk/blog/2013/02/here-is-why-sharia-law-has-no-place-in-britain-or-elsewhere |
