"Doctor doctor, will I die?"
"Yes my child... and so will I."
(anon)
It's true for you and me too. Meanwhile, let's find some meaning for ourselves, enjoy the beauty and do things that won't leave a mess for our kids and their kids.
Tuesday, September 13, 2005
Ontario Joins Quebec in saying no to Sharia Law
On Sunday, September 11, the Ontario (Canada) government announced that it will revise the Ontario Arbitration Act so that it does not require Ontario to enforce decisions reached by religious arbitration. There was recently a move to support the use of Sharia law to serve as legally binding arbitration for family matters (for those who choose it). A similar ruling was made earlier this year in Quebec.
This is a clear message that all Ontarians will be under one law, regardless of ethnicity, religion or race as is stated in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. - Alia Hogmen, Canadian Council of Muslim Women
For short series of articles on this decision go to this Straight Goods compilation.
Yes, in Amnesty we've been watching this closely. It's important to have religious freedom, but also to protect people equally (particularly women in this case) through our laws. I like a Canada that puts individual and minority rights ahead of social or belief structures.
I live in Nelson BC Canada. I have one lovely Anna, two adult kids (in New York and Montreal), a small house in downtown Nelson, an interesting career as a consultant and lots of other interests, including working for human rights (through Amnesty International and Peace Brigades International mainly).
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