| How the Government of Ontario would entertain | | | | similar "voluntary" practice called suttee. |
| such a regressive notion as the introduction | | | | For |
| of Shari'ah law in the resolution of family | | | | |
| matters continues to mortify me. Widely | | | | Hindu women who became widowed "voluntarily" |
| documented and internationally condemned as | | | | jumped on the funeral pyre, |
| being contrary to basic Canadian values, the | | | | |
| abuses, biases, and discrimination practiced | | | | sometimes being "helped" by her husbands |
| against women under Shari'ah has no place in | | | | family to maintain their honor upon his |
| my province.Justice is blind to nothing but | | | | |
| the facts, Shari'ah law is not.It devalues | | | | death. The British outlawed this practice |
| women and accords them little if any | | | | 200 years ago, and for good reason. It is |
| protection in respect to domestic | | | | |
| | | | not inline with western thought - and as |
| disputes. To believe that the provision of | | | | hard as it may be for some to believe, |
| Shari'ah law as a "voluntary" dispute | | | | |
| | | | Canada IS a western nation.I believe that |
| resolution alternative is naivety at its | | | | women, irrespective of faith are entitled by |
| grandest. Implementing this puts women at | | | | law to equal status, |
| | | | |
| risk of coercion, condemnation, and | | | | protection and representation as their male |
| alienation within the Muslim community should | | | | counterparts. "Equality before and under |
| | | | |
| | | | law and equal protection and benefit of law" |
| disputes arise and they fail to | | | | is enshrined in the Canadian Charter of |
| "voluntarily" opt for resolution through | | | | |
| Shari'ah | | | | Rights and Freedoms. Shari'ah does not |
| | | | embrace this ideal in its application to |
| tribunals."Men are the maintainers of women | | | | |
| because Allah has made some of them to excel | | | | domestic matters and on that ground alone if |
| | | | no other, is unacceptable. Ontario |
| others and because they spend out of their | | | | |
| property; the good women are therefore | | | | already has means of arbitration. The Family |
| | | | Law Act exists to govern family legal |
| obedient, guarding the unseen as Allah has | | | | |
| guarded; and (as to) those on whose | | | | matters in the Province of Ontario and |
| | | | should also be the only applicable Act in |
| part you fear desertion, admonish them, and | | | | |
| leave them alone in the sleeping- | | | | respect to family matters in the Muslim |
| | | | community.I urge anyone who claims stake in |
| places and beat them; then if they obey you, | | | | the future of Canada to write to the Premier |
| do not seek a way against them; surely | | | | and |
| | | | |
| Allah is High, Great." | | | | voice your concern for the introduction of |
| | | | Shari'ah law as a legally binding means of |
| (Qur'an 4:34 English translation: MH | | | | |
| Shakir)I know this because Hinduism had a | | | | arbitration. |