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July 5, 2008

Exclusive: CRC Open Sources

W. Thomas Smith, Jr., Director, Counterterrorism Research Center

CRC Open Sources

In this week's CRC Open Sources, we want to focus your attention on a story being widely published in the UK wherein Britain's highest-ranking judge says Sharia law could have a role in British law and society.

According to lord chief justice, Lord Phillips:

"There is no reason why sharia principles, or any other religious code, should not be the basis for mediation or other forms of alternative dispute resolution [with the understanding] ... that any sanctions for a failure to comply with the agreed terms of mediation would be drawn from the Laws of England and Wales."

Lord Phillips' belief is echoed by at least one UK Bishop, the Rt. Rev. John Packer, who says:

"In our criticisms of certain provisions of Sharia, we need to be careful not to condemn all that comes from that particular tradition. In Leeds we welcomed in particular the provision of Sharia-compliant loans and mortgages. ... Protection under the law is crucial to our society and must remain so. At the same time we need to defend the rights of cultural and religious groups to affirm ethical and moral standards."

This is more proof that Islam's Sharia law - which also allows for stoning to death and the cutting off of hands - is creeping into Western legal apparati. If it is increasingly becoming acceptable in Europe, its acceptance in the U.S. (particularly under liberal judges who prefer civilian criminal status for enemy prisoners of war) cannot be far behind.

• Sharia law could have UK role, says lord chief justice

• Gap in Tracking Terrorist Financing Through Money Service Businesses?

• IAEA Director-General Dr. Muhammad ElBaradei: Iran Can Produce Enough Enriched Uranium for a Nuclear Bomb in Six Months to a Year

• Does Lebanon's House Speaker Head a Jihadist Militia?

• [The Islamist-Leftist] Allied Menace

- Visit W. Thomas Smith Jr. at uswriter.com.

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