Jews, Muslims Vow to Fight for Faith-Based Tribunals in Canadian Province

[NNN0LHI]

http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGBX1YB9MDE.html

Jews, Muslims Vow to Fight for Faith-Based Tribunals in Canada's Largest Province

TORONTO (AP) - Jews and Muslims in Ontario pledged Wednesday to fight for faith-based tribunals to settle family disputes after its premier stunned their communities by announcing he would ban all religious arbitration in Canada's largest province.

Ontario had appeared well on its way to becoming the first Western jurisdiction to allow the use of Sharia - a code of laws drawn largely from the Islamic holy book, the Quran - to settle some Muslim family and civil disputes.

The province has allowed Catholic and Jewish tribunals to settle family law matters on a voluntary basis since the adoption of the Arbitration Act in 1991. The practice got little attention until some proponents of Sharia demanded the same rights.

Frank Dimant, executive vice president of B'nai Brith Canada, said Wednesday that Premier Dalton McGuinty's surprise announcement on Sunday to scrap the tribunals was unfair.

[Kagemusha]

1. It was a tough call either way...

But the law recognizes treating people differently on the basis of religion as real unfairness...

[Maple]

2. Predictable response

You either allow all of them, or none.

Either way, there is bound to be screaming.

[applegrove]

3. I'm with you guys. None or all. Anything else would go against the

most important part of our belief system. Equality.

[ck4829]

4. No. I don't like this.

I'm a Muslim who thinks that Muslims don't need Sharia.

I think it needs to be abolished.

It can be quite brutal.

[jim3775]

5. None or all? None at all!

It would go against everything I believe in my country to see it allow religious law. Good for Dalton!

[applegrove]

6. This brought to mind 'alternative sentencing' and what a good idea

that is. Though i have not seen any studies on it.

I see religious tribunals as serving the same functions. But yes - Sharia is scary.

Most important that we do not loose "equality" for all groups. That what gets me the most.