×

Loading...
Ad by
  • 推荐 OXIO 加拿大高速网络,最低月费仅$40. 使用推荐码 RCR37MB 可获得一个月的免费服务
Ad by
  • 推荐 OXIO 加拿大高速网络,最低月费仅$40. 使用推荐码 RCR37MB 可获得一个月的免费服务

这个省长有点意思.-不过我同意他的做法,既然不同意让回教仲裁家庭纠纷,自然应该取消现存的基督教和犹太教家庭仲裁的特权...不能让宗教有干涉行政司法的权利.

本文发表在 rolia.net 枫下论坛McGuinty says 'No' to sharia law


PRITHI YELAJA AND ROBERT BENZIE
STAFF REPORTERS

In a surprise announcement that caught both supporters and opponents of sharia law off guard, Premier Dalton McGuinty says he will move quickly to ban all religious arbitration in the province.

McGuinty made the announcement in a telephone interview with The Canadian Press yesterday after months of debate and controversy surrounding use of Islamic sharia law in family arbitration.

"I've come to the conclusion that the debate has gone on long enough," the premier told the news agency.

"There will be no sharia law in Ontario. There will be no religious arbitration in Ontario. There will be one law for all Ontarians."

The announcement prompted tears of joy and cartwheels among opponents of sharia who say they suffered constant harassment, including verbal taunts, physical attacks and even death threats by fundamentalist Muslims because of their stance.

"I'm just thrilled! It validates what we've been saying. It's a big victory for separation of religion and state and a huge defeat for Islamic fundamentalism," said Tarek Fatah, of the Muslim Canadian Congress, adding the group feared McGuinty would allow sharia after receiving a report recommending it by former NDP attorney-general Marion Boyd.

"I want to congratulate the premier for taking such a bold and courageous decision. It restores my faith in politicians," said Fatah.

Boyd could not be reached for comment yesterday.

Proponents of sharia expressed shock and disappointment at what they call McGuinty's "flip-flop" on the issue, and the fact that he went against the recommendations of Boyd's report.

"He is misguided and will alienate many people of faith in this province," said Mohammed Elmasry, head of the Canadian Islamic Congress.

"He obviously caved in to political pressure from a minority with a loud voice. Not only will it cost him at the polls in the next election, the problem won't go away ... Arbitration will continue anyway, because it is part of our social fabric."

"If McGuinty is worried about women abuse," Elmasry said, "then recognizing and regulating arbitration is much better than the ad hoc procedure that is currently happening because, when you regulate it, there is transparency and accountability."

A representative from Ontario's Jewish community also expressed surprise at McGuinty's decision.

"We're stunned," said Joel Richler, Ontario region chairman of the Canadian Jewish Congress.

"At the very least, we would have thought the government would have consulted with us before taking away what we've had for so many years."

Richler said the current system — in place since 1992 — has worked well and he saw no reason for it to be changed for either his or other religious communities.

"If there have been any problems flowing from any rabbinical court decisions, I'm not aware of them," he said.

The decision likely will not affect marriage tribunals of the Catholic Church, which simply decide whether a marriage was "sacramentally valid," said Suzanne Scorsone, spokesperson for the Archdiocese of Toronto. Such tribunals do not access the Arbitration Act because they do not deal with issues such as custody, property division or support payments, she said.

Members of the Canadian Council of Muslim Women who had met just yesterday to plot their next move in fighting further legalization of sharia law, were overjoyed at McGuinty's decision.

"We're still in disbelief. But it's such good news. It's remarkable. We're very happy because it's been a difficult fight. We got a lot of flak from other Muslims who called us Islamaphobic," said Nuzhat Jafri, a spokeswoman for the group.

"It was way too complicated for the government to allow faith-based arbitration. Most faiths, whether we like it or not, are not fair to women because they are based on a patriarchal tradition."

Banning all religious arbitration is an "equitable move," Jafri added. "To single out Muslims would have been discriminatory."

Just hours before McGuinty's announcement, writer June Callwood, actress Shirley Douglas and other prominent Canadian women had, as a group, issued an open letter to him on behalf of the No Religious Arbitration Coalition.

Elated, Callwood and Douglas were full of praise for McGuinty.

"Wow, that's brilliant!" said Callwood. "So many women and a lot of men, too, felt this (sharia) was going to be a disaster. To do it in one big stroke is wonderful. It provides consistency."

McGuinty's decision "will be cheered around the world," said Callwood. Douglas was equally effusive. "It's terrific. Dalton McGuinty has made a move he will be proud of for a long time."

Expanding legal use of sharia would have been a "huge step backward for women ... being dictated to by men and elders of the (faith) ... this is a recipe for deep trouble for women in those communities ... why terrorize people with that kind of insecurity? I'm very pleased he's discontinuing the others as well. Religion has no place in law."

Under the 1991 Arbitration Act, sharia law is already legal in the province so long as both parties agree to its use and the arbitrators' decisions do not violate Canadian law. Aboriginal, Christian and Jewish tribunals have operating similarily under the act for the past 14 years.

Because of concerns over expanding use of sharia law in dispute resolution, the Liberals asked Boyd, whose government effectively allowed religious arbitration, to review the issue.

Since December, the government has sat on Boyd's report, which recommended retaining sharia law and other religious arbitration as an option to resolve familial disputes such as child custody and divorce.

Liberal inaction on the matter infuriated and frustrated supporters and opponents of religious tribunals.

Last Thursday, McGuinty was vilified at a Queen's Park protest for appearing tacitly to endorse sharia, which critics charge treats women unfairly. Similar demonstrations were held in Montreal and abroad in Amsterdam, Paris and Rome.

The premier told Canadian Press such religious arbitrations "threaten our common ground," and promised to introduce legislation "as soon as possible" to outlaw them.

Sources told the Toronto Star McGuinty came to the conclusion he had to prohibit all tribunals after a meeting last Wednesday with Attorney-General Michael Bryant, who has been wrestling with the tricky issue for months. Bryant could not be reached for comment.

"Ontarians will always have the right to seek advice from anyone in matters of family law, including religious advice. But no longer will religious arbitration be deciding matters of family law," McGuinty told CP.

Both opposition parties said they supported an end to religious tribunals, but panned the way the premier came to it.

Progressive Conservative Leader John Tory said last night he was "very disappointed" that McGuinty would announce such sweeping policy through the media. He said faith groups should have been consulted.

"This appears to have been drawn up on a napkin — 4:20 p.m. on a Sunday seems a funny time to be making up major policy in an interview."

NDP MPP Peter Kormos (Niagara Centre) said he was "pleased" McGuinty appears to be adopting the New Democrat position of preventing religious tribunals from deciding issues best left to courts.

But Kormos criticized the premier "for allowing this to fester. His delays, his head-in-the-sand approach has provoked a debate that has become unpleasant and harmful and at times hateful."

There was much pressure from the 17-member Liberal women's caucus to ban sharia law.

Liberal MPP Kathleen Wynne (Don Valley West), one of the members urging prohibition of religious tribunals, was "relieved" at the decision.更多精彩文章及讨论,请光临枫下论坛 rolia.net
Report

Replies, comments and Discussions:

  • 枫下茶话 / 政治经济 / 这个省长有点意思.-不过我同意他的做法,既然不同意让回教仲裁家庭纠纷,自然应该取消现存的基督教和犹太教家庭仲裁的特权...不能让宗教有干涉行政司法的权利.
    本文发表在 rolia.net 枫下论坛McGuinty says 'No' to sharia law


    PRITHI YELAJA AND ROBERT BENZIE
    STAFF REPORTERS

    In a surprise announcement that caught both supporters and opponents of sharia law off guard, Premier Dalton McGuinty says he will move quickly to ban all religious arbitration in the province.

    McGuinty made the announcement in a telephone interview with The Canadian Press yesterday after months of debate and controversy surrounding use of Islamic sharia law in family arbitration.

    "I've come to the conclusion that the debate has gone on long enough," the premier told the news agency.

    "There will be no sharia law in Ontario. There will be no religious arbitration in Ontario. There will be one law for all Ontarians."

    The announcement prompted tears of joy and cartwheels among opponents of sharia who say they suffered constant harassment, including verbal taunts, physical attacks and even death threats by fundamentalist Muslims because of their stance.

    "I'm just thrilled! It validates what we've been saying. It's a big victory for separation of religion and state and a huge defeat for Islamic fundamentalism," said Tarek Fatah, of the Muslim Canadian Congress, adding the group feared McGuinty would allow sharia after receiving a report recommending it by former NDP attorney-general Marion Boyd.

    "I want to congratulate the premier for taking such a bold and courageous decision. It restores my faith in politicians," said Fatah.

    Boyd could not be reached for comment yesterday.

    Proponents of sharia expressed shock and disappointment at what they call McGuinty's "flip-flop" on the issue, and the fact that he went against the recommendations of Boyd's report.

    "He is misguided and will alienate many people of faith in this province," said Mohammed Elmasry, head of the Canadian Islamic Congress.

    "He obviously caved in to political pressure from a minority with a loud voice. Not only will it cost him at the polls in the next election, the problem won't go away ... Arbitration will continue anyway, because it is part of our social fabric."

    "If McGuinty is worried about women abuse," Elmasry said, "then recognizing and regulating arbitration is much better than the ad hoc procedure that is currently happening because, when you regulate it, there is transparency and accountability."

    A representative from Ontario's Jewish community also expressed surprise at McGuinty's decision.

    "We're stunned," said Joel Richler, Ontario region chairman of the Canadian Jewish Congress.

    "At the very least, we would have thought the government would have consulted with us before taking away what we've had for so many years."

    Richler said the current system — in place since 1992 — has worked well and he saw no reason for it to be changed for either his or other religious communities.

    "If there have been any problems flowing from any rabbinical court decisions, I'm not aware of them," he said.

    The decision likely will not affect marriage tribunals of the Catholic Church, which simply decide whether a marriage was "sacramentally valid," said Suzanne Scorsone, spokesperson for the Archdiocese of Toronto. Such tribunals do not access the Arbitration Act because they do not deal with issues such as custody, property division or support payments, she said.

    Members of the Canadian Council of Muslim Women who had met just yesterday to plot their next move in fighting further legalization of sharia law, were overjoyed at McGuinty's decision.

    "We're still in disbelief. But it's such good news. It's remarkable. We're very happy because it's been a difficult fight. We got a lot of flak from other Muslims who called us Islamaphobic," said Nuzhat Jafri, a spokeswoman for the group.

    "It was way too complicated for the government to allow faith-based arbitration. Most faiths, whether we like it or not, are not fair to women because they are based on a patriarchal tradition."

    Banning all religious arbitration is an "equitable move," Jafri added. "To single out Muslims would have been discriminatory."

    Just hours before McGuinty's announcement, writer June Callwood, actress Shirley Douglas and other prominent Canadian women had, as a group, issued an open letter to him on behalf of the No Religious Arbitration Coalition.

    Elated, Callwood and Douglas were full of praise for McGuinty.

    "Wow, that's brilliant!" said Callwood. "So many women and a lot of men, too, felt this (sharia) was going to be a disaster. To do it in one big stroke is wonderful. It provides consistency."

    McGuinty's decision "will be cheered around the world," said Callwood. Douglas was equally effusive. "It's terrific. Dalton McGuinty has made a move he will be proud of for a long time."

    Expanding legal use of sharia would have been a "huge step backward for women ... being dictated to by men and elders of the (faith) ... this is a recipe for deep trouble for women in those communities ... why terrorize people with that kind of insecurity? I'm very pleased he's discontinuing the others as well. Religion has no place in law."

    Under the 1991 Arbitration Act, sharia law is already legal in the province so long as both parties agree to its use and the arbitrators' decisions do not violate Canadian law. Aboriginal, Christian and Jewish tribunals have operating similarily under the act for the past 14 years.

    Because of concerns over expanding use of sharia law in dispute resolution, the Liberals asked Boyd, whose government effectively allowed religious arbitration, to review the issue.

    Since December, the government has sat on Boyd's report, which recommended retaining sharia law and other religious arbitration as an option to resolve familial disputes such as child custody and divorce.

    Liberal inaction on the matter infuriated and frustrated supporters and opponents of religious tribunals.

    Last Thursday, McGuinty was vilified at a Queen's Park protest for appearing tacitly to endorse sharia, which critics charge treats women unfairly. Similar demonstrations were held in Montreal and abroad in Amsterdam, Paris and Rome.

    The premier told Canadian Press such religious arbitrations "threaten our common ground," and promised to introduce legislation "as soon as possible" to outlaw them.

    Sources told the Toronto Star McGuinty came to the conclusion he had to prohibit all tribunals after a meeting last Wednesday with Attorney-General Michael Bryant, who has been wrestling with the tricky issue for months. Bryant could not be reached for comment.

    "Ontarians will always have the right to seek advice from anyone in matters of family law, including religious advice. But no longer will religious arbitration be deciding matters of family law," McGuinty told CP.

    Both opposition parties said they supported an end to religious tribunals, but panned the way the premier came to it.

    Progressive Conservative Leader John Tory said last night he was "very disappointed" that McGuinty would announce such sweeping policy through the media. He said faith groups should have been consulted.

    "This appears to have been drawn up on a napkin — 4:20 p.m. on a Sunday seems a funny time to be making up major policy in an interview."

    NDP MPP Peter Kormos (Niagara Centre) said he was "pleased" McGuinty appears to be adopting the New Democrat position of preventing religious tribunals from deciding issues best left to courts.

    But Kormos criticized the premier "for allowing this to fester. His delays, his head-in-the-sand approach has provoked a debate that has become unpleasant and harmful and at times hateful."

    There was much pressure from the 17-member Liberal women's caucus to ban sharia law.

    Liberal MPP Kathleen Wynne (Don Valley West), one of the members urging prohibition of religious tribunals, was "relieved" at the decision.更多精彩文章及讨论,请光临枫下论坛 rolia.net
    • 不是基督教,是天主教(就是有教皇他老人家,并且最近官司不断的那个教)
      • 天主教是基督教的一部分.这里有个笑话很清楚地说明了宗教间的从属关系....
        本文发表在 rolia.net 枫下论坛I was walking across a bridge one day, and I saw a man standing on the edge, about to jump off. So I ran over and said 'Stop! don't do it!' 'Why shouldn't I?' he said. I said, 'Well, there's so much to live for!' He said, 'Like what?' I said, 'Well...are you religious or atheist?' He said, 'Religious.' I said, 'Me too! Are you Christian or Buddhist?' He said, 'Christian.' I said, 'Me too! Are you Catholic or Protestant?' He said, 'Protestant.' I said, 'Me too! Are you Episcopalian or Baptist?' He said, 'Baptist!' I said, 'Wow! Me too! Are you Baptist church of god or Baptist church of the lord?' He said, 'Baptist church of god!' I said, 'Me too! Are you original Baptist church of god, or are you reformed Baptist church of god?' He said, 'Reformed Baptist church of god!' I said, 'Me too! Are you reformed Baptist church of god, reformation of 1879, or reformed Baptist church of god, reformation of 1915?' He said, 'Reformed Baptist church of god, reformation of 1915!' I said, 'Die, heretic scum,' and pushed him off. ~Emo Phillips更多精彩文章及讨论,请光临枫下论坛 rolia.net
        • 哈哈哈
    • 就是这个家伙不断主张采用伊斯兰法的----〉
      • 她是NDP啊,不过从NDP一贯反对宗教介入法律事务的政策看,我完全有理由相信这是他们的一个回马枪的策略.策略是开始支持这个伊斯兰家庭法案,肯定会遭到几乎所有人的反对,然后就顺理成章地反对所有宗教家庭仲裁..
        • 高见
          • 从新闻中看,安省所有党派都支持结束宗教的家庭仲裁.说明宗教在加拿大的主流社会越来越势微.就象CHRETIEN 和MARTIN他们都自称自己是教徒,却大力支持同性婚姻.
            反到是华人宗教团体成为加拿大最保守的教会,反对同性婚姻他们的声音似乎最大....
            • Really? 我听本地的节目,反对通行婚姻的不少,华人的声音并不多,也许是华人少的缘故吧。
        • 我觉得不尽然,这次提议背后有很强的穆斯林的支持,(当然反对者也是以穆斯林妇女为主)。穆斯林认为生活在伊斯兰法(Sharia)下是对伊斯兰的一种贡献,用咱的话说就是没有Sharia管着就浑身不舒服。
          穆斯林不太把世俗和宗教区分开来,因此也是把世俗的法律和宗教内容混为一谈。比如穆斯林领袖们认为不服从Sharia意味着更大的罪 --- “不敬神和背叛宗教”, 背叛宗教在有些穆斯林国家,意思就是“死罪”。而不敬神呢, 英国作家拉市地被霍梅尼指责为:"不敬神", 后果大家都知道。
          • 作为局外人,我们的看法就是应该坚决制止。表面上说得好听,什么宗教仲裁必须在加拿大的法律范围内实行,但是
            只要有这种形式存在,只要有这种判决公布,受害人有可能受到更隐秘的执行:如果按照宗教法规里判浸猪笼,宗教仲裁判还是不判?判了,是不是有人会以暗杀的形式执行?就算不公开判死,对受害人来说也是变相的死亡威胁,只是不知道有没有人来执行。只要有10%的可能性,就要提心吊胆一辈子。
      • 我的看法应该是让所有的宗教法则的##公开引用##,即便其条款是不违背加拿大法律的,也应该视为非法。
        • 简单的一刀切也不对,有些宗教上面的事情,世俗法律根本不管,也管不着。比如犹太人宗教法庭主管下面的一些事情:开离婚、死亡证明,开kosher证明,金钱有关的案子,有关宗教的争议,主持
          修建和维护mikvah, 判定一个人的身份(比如这人是否是犹太人)--- 这里面有些内容确实只和宗教有关系。这种情况下,宗教法庭是一个世俗法庭的补充,尤其是像加拿大这样的multiculturalism的环境
          • 我想我们讨论的是仲裁而不是手续,就像布鲁诺被烧死之类的。手续问题可以参照CPAC办汽车保险的条款,做和不做两可的
    • 我知道的另外一个宗教特权造成的法律漏洞是凭加拿大教会受洗证也可以成为加拿大公民,这就造成的一个人口管理上的一个漏洞.我读过一篇文章,很多犯罪分子通过空白或伪造的教会受洗证转换身份成为合法的加拿大人...
    • 说白了这是西方左派虚伪的一种表现。 既然宗教平等, 基督教能穆斯林就应该可以。
      现代文明是建立在基督文化之上的, 当然无法容纳古代的极端思想。右派们在这方面比较坦率, 承认自己是有偏见的。 左派们想要平等结果发现自己给自己放了一把火, 结果还要回到起点来。