Canada Must “Stand on Guard” Against Sharia

The Canadian law permitting a Sharia court was passed in 1991 when the Province of Ontario adopted the Arbitration Act, which stipulated that if two parties agree to engage an arbitrator to settle a civil dispute, the provincial authorities would uphold the decision so long as it is in agreement with Canadian Law. The Act allowed Muslims, Jews, Catholics, Aboriginals, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Mennonites and other faiths to utilize their religious principles to settle disputes such as divorce, custody and inheritances. The decisions rendered by the tribunal were binding.

For over ten years, these tribunals happened under the radar but then someone put the Arbitration Act in the spotlight. In 2003, the Islamic Institute of Civil Justice proposed its own Muslim Arbitration Boards, under the Arbitration Act, based on Sharia law. This is a case of being given an inch and requesting a mile. Worse, it is the insidious start to changing the fabric of our great country – as is the radical Islamic desire and goal. Let’s face it, if Sharia law were beneficial to women, there would never have been a drive to have it implemented. Would women fare better under Sharia law than under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms? I don’t think so.

The backlash to the Arbitration Act was swift and furious, from hundreds of thousands individuals to countless organizations including, but limited to, the Muslim Canadian Congress, the National Association of Women and the Law, and the Canadian Council of Muslim Women. They know of what they speak! They warned about the reality and the ugliness of the 1400 year old rules, which still considers women beneath men. Sharia law would undermine Canada’s Charter of Rights and Freedoms in its blatant discrimination and hatred toward women. Think there’s nothing to worry about?

Just this month, May 2007, a beautiful young 17 year old daughter was publicly stoned to death in an honor-killing by a group of Islamic fanatics for falling in love with the wrong guy. The horrendous act-which took over thirty minutes of torture to accomplish – was published on the internet, for those needing the graphic to be sufficiently horrified. But why should we worry? This is Canada, after all! Such a thing could never happen in this “Glorious and Free” utopia. Canada has an enviable Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Well, if our ignorance doesn’t get us, our political correctness will. But frankly, I could care less what a Jihadist thinks of me.