Is consent real, unanimous, complete? Is there duress? Is there undue influence?… Read the rest
All entries by this author
The Archbishop Clarifies
Feb 10th, 2008 | Filed by Ophelia BensonChristians cannot claim exceptions from a secular unitary system if they are not willing to accommodate other religious consciences.… Read the rest
Blogging Darwin
Feb 10th, 2008 | Filed by Ophelia BensonEvery single week, we at Nature publish new research that reinforces and further enlightens the Origin. … Read the rest
Nick Cohen on Silencing With Libel Laws
Feb 10th, 2008 | Filed by Ophelia BensonRich organisations and people can use British courts to suppress the freedom democratic societies rely on.… Read the rest
Catherine Bennett on the Archbishop’s Miracle
Feb 10th, 2008 | Filed by Ophelia BensonHis challenge to equality under the law was so comically extreme that it clarified the issues handily.… Read the rest
Ruth Gledhill on What the Archbish Wants
Feb 10th, 2008 | Filed by Ophelia BensonBe sure to read the para just below the YouTube links. Then tear your hair.… Read the rest
BBC Explains: Sharia is Not So Bad
Feb 9th, 2008 | Filed by Ophelia BensonSome people have concerns, but it’s all a mistake really. Sharia is quite nice. Cheer up.… Read the rest
Archbishop Under Pressure to Quit
Feb 9th, 2008 | Filed by Ophelia BensonHe is said to be shocked and hurt by the hostility his comments have provoked.… Read the rest
Riazat Butt on Settling Marital Disputes
Feb 9th, 2008 | Filed by Ophelia BensonA woman wanting divorce usually needs the consent of her husband. Men have the right of unilateral divorce. … Read the rest
Andrew Brown on Unwilling Martyrs
Feb 9th, 2008 | Filed by Ophelia BensonThere are people at Lambeth Palace who could have told Williams; some did, but he thought he knew better.… Read the rest
Yasmin Alibhai-Brown on Archy’s Idea
Feb 9th, 2008 | Filed by Ophelia BensonHe is naive to the point of folly if he imagines it is possible to pick and choose the bits that are relatively nice to the girls.… Read the rest
When Yasmin met Archy
Feb 9th, 2008 11:46 am | By Ophelia BensonYasmin A-B explains what Archy doesn’t get. Too bad he didn’t ask her before he jotted down the speech.
… Read the restWhat Rowan Williams wishes upon us is an abomination…He would not want his own girls and women, I am sure, to “choose” to be governed by these laws he breezily endorses. And he is naive to the point of folly if he imagines it is possible to pick and choose the bits that are relatively nice to the girls…Look around the Islamic world where sharia rules and, in every single country, these ordinances reduce our human value to less than half that is accorded a male; homosexuals are imprisoned or killed, children have no free voice or autonomy, authoritarianism rules
Andrew Brown is Optimistic
Feb 8th, 2008 | Filed by Ophelia BensonHe likes ‘the archbishop’s vision of a kinder, more feminist, sharia.’ Meanwhile, back on planet earth…… Read the rest
Sharia in Ontario, Almost
Feb 8th, 2008 | Filed by Ophelia BensonHoma Arjomand argued that the recommendations would push back Canadian law by 1,400 years.… Read the rest
BBC Claims ‘Mixed Reaction’ to Archbishop
Feb 8th, 2008 | Filed by Ophelia BensonThen scrapes bottom of barrel to find enough people in favour to justify claim.… Read the rest
The Archbishop’s Lecture in full
Feb 8th, 2008 | Filed by Ophelia BensonDr Williams has been reading Tariq Ramadan.… Read the rest
Bishop Fumes at Reception of Sharia Idea
Feb 8th, 2008 | Filed by Ophelia Benson‘I believe he was standing up for the different faith communities.’ We know; that’s the problem.… Read the rest
Peter Tatchell Urges Mercy to Qaradawi
Feb 8th, 2008 | Filed by Ophelia BensonHe wants to come to UK for medical treatment; let him. Perhaps a gay Israeli Jew will save him.… Read the rest
Sharia Okay As Long as it’s Liberal Sharia
Feb 8th, 2008 | Filed by Ophelia Benson‘The fundamental purpose of sharia is to achieve justice.’ Is it?… Read the rest
Bravo is it?
Feb 8th, 2008 9:40 am | By Ophelia BensonBravo, Rowan, says Jeevan Vasagar breezily. Well, he’s a man; easy for him to say.
In Tanzania, for example, Muslim family law applies to Muslim citizens. When it comes to questions of divorce, custody and inheritance, Muslim families settle their disputes at courts unique to their communities.
Yes we know, and Muslim family law treats women and men unequally. That is the problem.
There’s an interesting clash here – a classic liberal dilemma. Do you promote the rights of a minority community or do you worry more about the rights of Muslim women, who may get treated less generously under sharia than under secular law?
It’s not really a dilemma once you think about it hard enough. Just for one … Read the rest