Australian Imams call for sharia banks

Fantastic!

Many of us in the blogosphere know that this is a path of stealth jihad.

I do believe there are also some Sharia compliant financial products available already as Senator Cory Bernardi wants the spread of Sharia Finance curtailed.

I was also somewhat mystified by this [from the article below]:

“Fellow WA imam Sheikh Burhaan Mehtar said the issue of sharia law was often raised to scare non-Muslims, but a dialogue would lead to better understanding.

"Islamic banking and the non-slavery of humans is a classic example. Interest is slavery," he said.”

Non-slavery?

Is he joking?

Slavery is part of Islam.

The slave trade was run by Muslims.

Think back to Thomas Jefferson and the Barbary pirates. I’ll let Christopher Hitchens explain.

There are more examples of slavery in Islam also.

Just a few for now. Here, here, and here.

Adelaide Times: Imams call for shari'a banks

by John Masanauskas

ISLAMIC leaders want Australia to recognise sharia banking practices so Muslims can get interest-free loans for religious reasons.

Some imams are also sceptical that the killing of Osama bin Laden will benefit ordinary Muslims and they are unhappy with the way US forces disposed of his body.

An Advertiser survey of the nation's Islamic leaders has also revealed:

STRONG condemnation of MPs who criticise Muslim women for wearing the burqa/nijab.

CONCERN that ordinary Muslims are still being linked to terrorism.

DISGUST that innocent people in Muslim countries are being killed in the "war on terror".

The survey was conducted in the wake of a $55,000 Federal Government training program for imams on Australian laws and values.

The religious leaders have been told to preach Aussie values such as the fair go, freedom and responsibility to their congregations.

Imam Yusuf Parker, from the Alhidayah Centre in Perth, said that Australia should consider recognising sharia law as it applied to finance and family law matters.

Imam Parker said that Islam forbade the charging or paying of interest "so finding interest-free loans will again help Muslims to practice their Islam better".

"Other than the two major issues mentioned, I don't see other sharia law that Muslims would seek to have legally recognised," he said.

Fellow WA imam Sheikh Burhaan Mehtar said the issue of sharia law was often raised to scare non-Muslims, but a dialogue would lead to better understanding. "Islamic banking and the non-slavery of humans is a classic example. Interest is slavery," he said.

Islamic Council of Victoria board member Nazeem Hussain said that currently there were legal and tax barriers preventing local banks from offering Islamic products.

"That's a massive market that the Australian Government has identified (and) we'd encourage the Government to seek ways to tap into that market," he said.
[…]

With thanks to Adelaide Now

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