Replace Bible with Koran in Court?

There is a movement afoot to allow witnesses in American courts to use the Koran rather than the Bible. We all saw this coming and now it's time to confront it. In 2003 Syidah Mateen requested to place her hand on the Koran as a witness and her request was denied. A lawsuit was filed in July 2005 and now a three-judge panel voted unanimously to reverse a trial court decision that had dismissed the challenge.

Now the lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union and the Muslim woman over the use of the Koran and other non-Christian texts for state courtroom oaths will be allowed to go forward, the state Court of Appeals ruled. One of the champions in the fight, Dr. Wills, has this:

With regard to what I mentioned concerning "demonstrable" reasons (why Muslims must not be allowed to 'swear' upon the Koran..), an important one of those reasons invokes the obvious (but hitherto unasked) question: "For whose sake--for whose assurance and peace of mind--is an oath solicited? Is an oath intended for the benefit of the oath-giver, or for those who are on the RECEIVING END of an oath? (Atlas Shrugs)

The witness swears an oath to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help me God, on the Bible because... (1)the witness believes in the Bible, or because (2) the court/jury/judge/lawyers/system believe in the Bible, or (3) other? Which is it and does it really matter since in Islam it is perfectly OK to lie?

Several Jewish members of the North Carolina chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union have filed affidavits indicating they would prefer to swear upon the Old Testament, one of the religious texts of their faith, Chief Judge John Martin wrote.

"We conclude the complaint is sufficient to entitle both plaintiffs to litigate their claims ... though we are careful to express no opinion on the merits of those claims," Martin wrote. Judges Ron Elmore and Barbara Jackson concurred.

The issue surfaced after Muslims from the Al-Ummil Ummat Islamic Center in Greensboro, North Carolina, tried to donate copies of the Koran to Guilford County's two courthouses. Two Guilford judges declined to accept the texts, saying an oath on the Koran is not a legal oath under state law.

State law allows witnesses preparing to testify in court to take their oath either by laying a hand over a "Holy Scripture," by saying "so help me God" without the use of a religious book or by using no religious symbols.

The ACLU and the Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations called for a statewide policy permitting use of the Koran and other religious texts in courtrooms. But the director of the state court system said no, saying the General Assembly or the courts needed to settle the issue.

The ACLU and Mateen sued, alleging state law is unconstitutional because it favors Christianity over other religions.

State attorneys could appeal the ruling to the North Carolina Supreme Court, but the justices are not automatically required to review it because Tuesday's decision was unanimous. (source)

Moonbattery says:

... CAIR has proclaimed that using the Bible represents "an inappropriate state endorsement of religion." This from advocates of a religion that holds that non-Muslims should have legal status just above slaves, if they are tolerated at all.

As usual, the "state endorsement of religion" argument is a total sham. Those who do not want to swear on the Bible can make an affirmation instead, with no Bibles involved. ...

... If Muslims can swear on Korans, why not have Scientologists swear on L. Ron Hubbard novels? The idea of course is to use our own moonbattery to undermine Christianity and to force our society to pay obeisance to the lovely Religion of Peace that inspired 9/11.

Speaking of 9/11, what are the chances that North Carolina would even consider allowing people to swear on Korans as if they were Bibles prior to that horrific event? It looks like terrorism works — provided we let it.

As I have said before, they are using our court system, our laws, our freedoms, against us ... and apparently we are allowing it to happen.

Comments

[john]

i propose we eliminate
swearing on the bible in
court all together. on a
daily basis people mock
the bible and god by lying
in court. people of different religions
could care less about
the bible! as christians
we should not allow the
general public to ridicule
our most holy book. only
the hands of true christians should swear upon it.

[Thomas Hamilton]

Bicker bicker bicker.....

[StormWarning]

Nightrider...and just what makes you think that I am a liberal? Oh, I know! I'm not far enough to the right for you, so I must be a "librul."

I'll bet that you haven't read anything that I've written. I'll bet that you have no idea of my posiition on illegal immigration or border security...or generally about Homeland Security for that matter. I'll bet that you know nothing about my position on illegal narcotics and the so-called War on Drugs. You certainly don't know much about me either! Of course, I must be a liberal because I disagree with you on the premise of Freedom of Religion, and that someone of the Muslim faith is to testify in a court of law and to assert to their god that they are telling the truth, how can they do so with a Bible, whether its the Old Testament or the New Testament.

And not all Muslims are bad...and yes, I know, most if not all terrorists are Muslims...except people like Eric Rudolph for example)

And another thing...and for your edification, while Christians read both the Old Testament and the New Testament, people of the Jewish faith only read the Old Testament).

Aside from that, when was the last time you exercised your Constitutional right to address your government in person (my meeting ended about 90 minutes ago)?

I'm in the business Nightrider (security). I have strong opinions about policy issues relating to National and Homeland Security. I, apparently, just can't be "good enough" for you.

Finally, as for your jab about "don't question my patriotism" do me a favor, and DON'T! You're the one who suggested that I was in the wrong country.

Now, unless you have something else constructive...I'm going to attend to my business.

[Night Rider]

StormWarning

You Liberals make me laugh.
Just like the Nancy Pelosi bunch you are and the Hilliary Clingon's and the rest of the nut case Libs.
Oh Don't Question my patriotism. Huh What a Joke you Liberals are.

[StormWarning]

And a "PS" to Nightrider. I am atleast as good an American as you are (probably a better one, but who's measuring?).

[StormWarning]

Nightrider. Out of respect for Debbie, my response to your comment, "maybe your living in the wrong Country" (actually that should be "you're"), is: "thanks for your hospitality Deb."

[Night Rider]

StormWarning

I agree with Debbie, it's the matter of swearing in on Gods Word. That is it if you can't tell the difference then maybe your living in the wrong Country.

[Debbie]

The Old Testament is part of our Bible, so I have no problem with Jews using the Old Testatment or the Torah. It is all God's word. I do have a big problem with using the Koran. I am completely against it.

[StormWarning]

Nightrider...I guess I don't have a problem with Muslims wishing to swear to "tell the truth, and nothing but" on the Koran...same holds for Ellison taking his oath of office...I simply don't have a problem with it.

[Night Rider]

StormWarning

The old Testament is the Bible and also is the King James version, they are one. So just what do you think that you are making out of that argument because it ain't cutting it.

[StormWarning]

Just out of curiosity, if I ran for office (an unlikely occurrence) and I actually won (who would vote for me?), would it be inappropriate for me to say "no thanks" to my swearing in being done with a King James Bible, and instead, requesting the Old Testament?

[Douglas V. Gibbs]

Our nation was founded upon the positive values of the Bible, not the violent anti-values of the Koran. Despicable that this is even an issue.

[velvethammer]

Noooooooo! Hell nooooooo! That is the be all and the end all. Beyond the pale! c.a.i.r. and the a.c.l.u need to be STOPPED NOW! Those evil, evil wretches!

[Night Rider]

Hi Debbie,

Well with the way that things are going, with them constantly trying to take God and the Bible out of our lives I think that 1 of 2 possible things are going to happen.
1. Either the End times are going to be coming soon.

or

2. We need to make use of the American Militias and take back our Government and straighten some people out here. Which includes giving some Liberals an Attitude Adjustment.