Malta: Imam supports Sharia punishments

Malta: Imam supports Sharia punishments

El Sadi says that such punishments are 'democratic' in countries where Muslims want them. Really? Is it also 'democratic' to demand that all Muslims be kicked out of Europe, should there be a majority who wishes it so? 'Rule of majority' or 'rule of the mob' usually does not equal 'democracy'.

Another point: Theoretically, if Malta would have a Muslim majority, would El-Sadi support legislating Sharia into law?

Video (in Maltese)


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Imam Mohamed El Sadi, the Muslim leader in Malta, believes chopping off the hands of thieves is a "deserving punishment".


Mr El Sadi made the statement during Monday's television programme Bondiplus, where he defended Sharia law, a judicial system used in some Islamic states and which can involve severe corporal punishments.


Contacted yesterday, Mr El Sadi stood by his comments and added the world was incurring the "wrath of God" through its permissiveness and destruction of spiritual and moral values, namely through the acceptance of "same-sex marriages, homosexuality, adultery and abortion".


Under Sharia law, such things are considered crimes that may even be punishable by death. When asked if the he agreed with such punishments he said: "Yes, of course. I agree with everything Islamic."


The TV show discussed whether crucifixes should be banned from classrooms. When presenter Lou Bondì asked Mr El Sadi if Muslims could be more tolerant and "light-hearted" in their reactions to parody and criticism, Mr El Sadi said Europe's permissive values were not necessarily ideal.


"Are same-sex marriages a value? What is this value? If in the future the majority of people want the right for men to marry cats, dogs or horses, will we make a law to fulfil these wishes," Mr El Sadi asked.


Mr Bondì then asked whether religion should dictate the laws of the country, through, say, Sharia law.


"What is wrong with Sharia law? If someone steals, he is taking from the country or the poor, so why is it wrong to cut off his hand?" the Imam replied.


Mr El Sadi said the punishment should terrify thieves and criminals, "not the good people".


When speaking to The Times about his remarks, the Imam said: "Why don't you concentrate on what is common rather than pick on what is controversial?"


He said he was not proposing this system for Europe because it would be undemocratic. But it was also undemocratic for Muslim countries not to use it because most Muslims wanted it.



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Source: Times of Malta (English)