Sharia being implemented in Iraq

For the past ten days, no one has been able to drink or buy alcoholic beverages in Najaf because of a bylaw adopted by local authorities. The decision comes as the latest in a series, suggesting that Sharia is being slowly implemented in Iraq, and that it also applies to non-Muslims.  --Layla Yousif Rahema at AINA

The threat of sharia in Iraq isn't new.  There were reports of sharia in 2004,  2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, and early 2009. 

In 2004 Daniel Pipes warned, "this topic should be the subject of a soul-searching debate in America and all the other countries whose forces are occupying Iraq, for how it is answered will likely influence Iraq's future in profound ways."  Pipes reported that  at about 4:20 a.m. on March 1, 2004, when the Iraqi Governing Council, in the presence of top coalition administrators, agreed on the wording of an interim constitution -- sharia would be "a source" for Iraq's laws, rather than "the source", making the interim constitution a signal victory for militant Islam.

In 2005 the supreme leader of Iraq's Shia, Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani endorsed calls for sharia law in Iraq.  As US Vice-President Dick Cheney said, "Iraqis will decide their own future."  Apparently they decided sharia should be an option.  

In 2008 Rola Phoenicia said, "American lawyers helped build Sharia Law into the Iraqi constitution, which all but opens the door for a future Shi'ite Theocracy of Muslim Fundamentalism. ... that means the Iraqi nation, government and laws are now subject to the laws of sharia."

As Layla Yousif Rahema reports,  "The problem lies with constitution itself."

When the new charter was adopted, religious minorities, especially Christians, had pointed out its ambiguities.

"It guarantees respect for religious freedoms, but at the same time in Article 6 establishes that no law can be adopted that is contrary to the Muslim religion," Mgr Sako said. "It was clear from the start that this would create serious problems for minorities."For historical reasons, the sale of alcoholic beverages is in the hands of the Christian community and represents an important source of income for Christians.

However, terrorism and attacks by Muslim fundamentalists against stores selling alcoholic products have forced many businesses to close. Now, many of those who still sell such products expect the new bylaw to hit their already half-empty pockets even harder.

According to Mgr Sako, Iraq needs leaders who are "more realistic, open and truly willing to help people mature." The constitution, for example, "does not envisage in any concrete way how to guarantee equality between men and women, regulate polygamy or the right to convert, something which is banned by Islam but which pertains to the realm of freedom of conscience."

For the prelate, there is a risk that "Iraq will fall back a few centuries, when Sharia was imposed on the entire population."

There isn't much we can do about this now as the Obama administration is completely on board with getting our troops out as planned.  We can only hope and pray that sane minds in leadership positions will guide Iraq on the right path away from sharia and toward freedom.

Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki visited with the President at the White House today, promising to have all American combat troops out of Iraq by August 2010 and all troops leave Iraq by the end of 2011.  Today 51% of Americans disagree with Obamas policies.

Mona Charen writes an excellent article that summarizes the failures of Obama, "Obama's Moral Leadership Balloon Crashes" in places like Iran, Honduras, Sudan, and on and on.  We cannot expect anything different from Obama when it comes to Iraq or Afghanistan.

Comments

[MK]

We westerners, myself included, need to learn that the problem is islam.