Ahmadi Muslims Debate Sharia Law with One Law for All (Maryam Namazie) at UCL
On Thursday the 8th of December 2011, University College London Union Atheist Secularist and Humanist Society (UCLU ASHS) hosted a debate, the motion of which was “Sharia Law Negates Human Rights”. The two proponents of the motion (namely, Maryam Namazie and Annemarie Waters) were provided by UCLU ASHS from a campaign called “One Law for All”- a campaign to eradicate Sharia in all its forms and guises both in the United Kingdom and elsewhere abroad. The speakers against the motion were provided by the University College London Union Ahmadiyya Muslim Students Association (UCLU AMSA) and were the respected Khuddam members, Ayyaz Mahmood Khan and Jonathan Butterworth. Also present at the debate was Fahim Anwar, head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Youth Association (AMYA UK), Dr. Aziz Ahmad Hafiz, deputy head of the AMYA UK, and Dr. Tauseef Khan, head of the AMYA Student Affairs Department UK. The entire proceedings were captured by Muslim Television Ahmadiyya (MTA), the official channel of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community.
Categories: Secularism, Video
I could agree with most that both sides were saying. My struggle is to find the happy medium and that is why the Muslim Times is promoting secularism in every country of the world.
The human struggle in such debates is that both sides do not fully acknowledge the position of other and talk over their head rather than about the real issues, accepting the frame of reference of the other.
For example, the Muslim speakers did not address, as to what to do with faulty understanding of “Sharia” which is playing havoc with so many and most Muslims have different understanding of Shariah and some secretly hope to implement it in their respective countries.
We seldom see the Muslim leaders promoting secularism when preaching to their own crowds.
The agnostic side has to give up stereotyping all Muslims and begin to see them as different sub-groups and deal with the ground reality in a more honest manner.
If moderate Muslims are for secularism they should take a clear and regular stance in favor of secular laws in their countries and in favor of Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
President Barack Obama on Religion and Politics
He says that we can draw our inspiration from our scriptures but we have to translate the message into a language that is understood by other fellow citizens from different religions.
One of the points President Obama makes is that the scripture has to be translated into a universal message by the believers, one that is befitting the realities of our global village.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QvKX16Eygs0&w=420&h=315%5D
An Invitation to Other Religions: Demonstrating Human Rights and Universal Brotherhood from Your Scriptures?
Shariah and Constitution: A Personal Journey