Presbyterian wants Sharia law banned in South Australia

The Presbyterian church is calling for the government to reject Sharia law.
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THE Presbyterian church has called for Sharia law to be rejected in South Australia.




SA-based convenor of the Presbyterian church and nation committee the reverend Stefan Slucki said some of the most brutal aspects of Sharia law were being used in Muslim communities and should not be allowed to gain a foothold. He said in the most extreme cases Islamic leaders had threatened to have Sharia law take over Australian law.
“We have no problems with things like halal food and those practices but the main problems with Sharia are the subjugation of women, the wearing of total coverings for women, the repression of women in terms of Christian principles,” Mr Slucki said.
“We are also opposed to the totalitarian view of the state (governance).
“This is an issue that will not go away, just as it has not gone away in the UK and in Canada and other places.
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“People must not flirt with the idea that it would be nice to allow Sharia law to be practised within selected communities.
“There are already people who send their children overseas for female genital mutilation and then bring them back.”
Islamic representatives yesterday would not comment on the issue of Sharia law and its use in Adelaide.
In some parts of the world, the most extreme aspects of the law require brutal punishments such as chopping off hands for theft and stoning of women for infidelity.
The criticisms of Sharia come despite the Presbyterian Church being one of the strongest refugee advocacy agencies in Australia.
Mr Slucki said even within the refugee community Christians in Muslim-dominated cultural groups were victimised according to the principles of Sharia law.
He said the church was motivated by fostering social inclusion for all members of the Islamic community.
“We are being told by some of the Arabic-speaking members of our congregation that problems are being created because of the divisiveness of Sharia law,” Mr Slucki said.
“Some (in Sydney) have had petrol bombs placed outside their homes.”
Mr Slucki was speaking as part of the church’s evidence to the Federal Government’s inquiry into multiculturalism.