Is Sharia Really Benign? Wake up.

Robert Spencer


Now that 20 states are considering legislation to outlaw Islamic law (Sharia), Islamic supremacist advocacy groups in the U.S—particularly the Hamas-linked Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR)—have launched an energetic media campaign to whitewash Sharia and gull Americans into believing that it is as benign as a game of dominoes.

To that end, Nezar Hamze, executive director of the South Florida chapter of CAIR, published a piece in the Miami Herald assuring us that Sharia was as American as baseball and fishing—and conveniently leaving out everything about Sharia that makes people believe it is a threat in the first place.

Hamze attributed concern about Islamic law to those who “claim that 'Moozlims' are trying to replace the U.S. Constitution with the Sharia” and are ready to “run out with pitchforks and protest signs.” “Moozlims.” “Pitchforks.” Hamze was semaphoring that the only people who could possibly be concerned about Sharia are ignorant racist yahoos. This is just a smear tactic, but it works insofar as it warns unreflective and uninformed leftists (i.e., virtually all leftists) not to dare to oppose Sharia: We wouldn’t want to align with rednecks, now, would we?

Hamze quoted Florida politician Adam Hasner as saying that “today there is an enemy, and that enemy is Sharia-compliant Islam.” Then Hamze commented: “This statement is ridiculous. When I wash before praying, this is Sharia-compliant Islam. When I offer a greeting to someone, this is Sharia-compliant Islam. What in the world is Hasner talking about?”

Hamze left out a few details. When I cut out a woman’s clitoris, this is Sharia-compliant Islam. When I forbid non-Muslims to practice their faith openly, this is Sharia-compliant Islam. When I count a non-Muslim’s life as less valuable than a Muslim’s, that is Sharia-compliant Islam. When I brutally lash a woman, this is Sharia-compliant Islam. When I smash musicians’ instruments and threaten them, saying they better not play music again or else, this is Sharia-compliant Islam. When I wage war against and subjugate unbelievers, this is Sharia-compliant Islam.

And so the same question Hamze asks should be asked of him: What in the world is Hamze talking about? Does he really expect us to believe that Hasner is upset about washing before prayers and greeting people?

Hamze insists that while his opponents “claim that the ‘Moozlims’ are trying to infiltrate our court systems and replace our Constitution,” in reality “not one Muslim has introduced anything to any legislative body calling for Sharia to replace the Constitution or for the Sharia to replace the law of the land.”

In fact, Sharia has been involved in court cases in 23 states. And while “not one Muslim has introduced anything to any legislative body calling for Sharia to replace the Constitution or for the Sharia to replace the law of the land,” that is only because they are not fools: To do such a thing would be very close to open sedition, and would draw upon the Muslims involved a torrent of popular disapproval and law enforcement scrutiny. Better to work behind the scenes. Remember Imam Musa al-Sadr, the Washington, D.C., imam who wants to establish an “Islamic State of North America no later than 2050.” Remember the Muslim Brotherhood’s program in the U.S. of “eliminating and destroying the Western civilization from within and ‘sabotaging’ its miserable house by their hands and the hands of the believers so that it is eliminated and Allah’s religion is made victorious over all other religions.”

Hamze criticized Rep. Allen West (R.-Fla.), charging him with saying during his campaign that “we are at war with Islam” and “Islam is not a religion.” West even had the audacity to claim, according to Hamze, “that the terrorists who attacked us on 9/11 were doing exactly what the Koran told them.”

Yet the terrorists who attacked us on 9/11 stated explicitly that they were doing exactly what the Koran told them. And many Muslims say that Islam is at war with us. I believe Islam is a religion, but also more than a religion: a political system, and one that is repressive and authoritarian. We ignore or deny this at our own peril.

Hamze concluded by telling Americans: “Educate yourself on Islam.” I strongly recommend that. Americans who do so will see through Hamze’s deceptive rhetoric, and see the usefulness of anti-Sharia legislation.

Mr. Spencer is director of Jihad Watch and author of The Politically Incorrect Guide to Islam (and the Crusades), The Truth About Muhammad, Stealth Jihad and The Complete Infidel's Guide to the Koran (all from Regnery-a HUMAN EVENTS sister company).