Shari’a Tribunals in North America
Shari’a Tribunals in North America
- James T. RichardsonJames T. RichardsonDepartment of Sociology and Judicial Studies, University of Nevada Reno
- , and Bryan S. TurnerBryan S. TurnerInstitute for Humanities and Social Sciences, Australian Catholic University
Summary
Some North American societies, especially Canada and the United States, are experiencing increasing numbers of Muslim citizens, and those communities have grown and become more integrated into the two societies. Predictably, they have sought the right to practice their faith in ways similar to how other minority religions are treated within the relatively open societies in which they reside. However, tragic events such as the destruction of the World Trade Center has led to considerable animus toward Muslims within the two societies, thus impeding efforts to seek more acceptance of Islamic practices, such as when settling domestic disputes involving divorce, child custody, and inheritance. Controversies have erupted in both the United States and Canada over efforts to allow arbitration in the area of domestic affairs for Muslims. A number of scholars have addressed this topic, often using previously accepted treatments of Jewish minorities as a model. The pros and cons of such an approach have been presented, leading to the conclusion from many of those scholars that allowing, within certain limits, recognition of Muslim practices within the domestic relations area would be beneficial both to the societies at large and to the Muslim citizens residing within them.
Subjects
- Islamic Studies