Muslims have called for Sharia law in Ghana. This shows a growing confidence amongst a radical, politicised form of Islam which believes that their God’s holy law should be enforced upon kafirs and other infidels. This is a worrying development as, apart from in the North, Ghana’s Muslims appeared to be mild-mannered, gentle and thoughtful. They contrasted favourably to the, often violent, Islamists who are gaining power in many countries.
Sharia law cannot be discussed or negotiated as Muslims believe it is prescribed directly by God. And you can’t disagree with God! It is the opposite of the democratic and secular laws that states make and has no place in modern democracies.
They are hoping to unify non-Moslems behind them using an emotive issue – homosexuality. They attempt to use the emotion of disgust in order to override people’s rational mind. In doing so, they use the same lies that are often used in these hate campaigns: they appeal to the story of Sodom and Gomorrah, now widely understood as not being about homosexuality; they claim homosexuals are recruiting children; that homosexuals have to wear pampers; and, as always, they focus on the sexual act rather than the love and relationships that form. Where strong negative emotions are triggered rational argument and evidence take the back seat.
They use a typical technique of misinformation, stating that Ghana should not “embrace this practise”. Of course, no one is asking Ghana to do so but by making this statement they give the misleading impression that this is part of the debate.
Using lies and misinformation in the name of God they hope to create a popular front in which they can find political power. Popular demonstrations such as the one organised in Takoradi on July 4, 2010 are designed to develop confidence within the masses in preparation for an ideological movement.
If they manage to manipulate the minds of Ghanaians and Sharia law does creep in, I wonder how many decent, law-abiding adulterers will still be standing!
I’m a Muslim and a Ghanaian and I am so ashamed that a learned person like you have also fallen for the stupid and often baseless adjectives that the shallow minded PR firms like NYT and CNN have succeeded in attributing to the name of Islam.
The fact that some morons (less than 1% of our number here) make some stupid call out of emotion than rationale causes you to dedicate a whole article to asking whether we have been “radicalized” just so what? You can prove that Islam is a violent religion?
Come on. Be fair and objective. The whole point of your article is to continue the work of your Western phobia of Islam. In any case, if they are calling for the institution of Sharia Law, does that make them radicals?
If you so much as believe in your democrazy, you’d realize that they also have the freedom to express their views, just as you’re advocating the right of men to marry men! What they did is exactly that. We have a circular country here with a circular government. That is not going to change in anyway whatsoever.
In case you have not read wider, please know that the abominable, shameful act of “homosexuality” is against the culture, morality and ethics of we Ghanaians. This is not about religion. This is about a stupid practice that is being encouraged among the future leaders of this country under the guise of “freedom.” Will you be willing to have a president called Michael with a wife called Jonathan in the future in whatever country you come from?
You also talk as if we Muslims are as power hungry here as your Western countries are, spreading their hegemony all over the globe. We have been living here on the basis of merit. You want to have fair representation? Go to school, learn to occupy high positions. The immediate past vice president of this country is a Muslim. We are not interested in any political power whatsoever. Those are your baseless and false opinions.
You also create the picture as if you have any evidence of a conspiracy to embark upon some ideological struggle with people we have been living side by side with for God knows how long! Next time you write up about such politico/religious stories, make sure you take into account the complete socio/politico/economic context of the country before you hit the publish button. Thanks!
Luqman
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Thanks for your comments as we do need to dialogue on these sensitive issues to understand each other better.
Firstly, I wish I had started the whole article with the word “Some” as I am aware that not all Muslims want Sharia law. I’m also aware that there is not one version of Islam but many different interpretations. I ignored the diversity of views and debates going on within Islam so I apologise for that.
Let me state right away that I totally accept the right for people to demonstrate on this issue. But, correspondingly, I have the right to disagree. This is the way a democracy works. I was interested in your use of the word ‘democrazy’ and your belief that I want to censor people who say things I don’t like. I believe I will be offended in a democracy, that people will attack my beliefs, but that I have to deal with it in a mature way.
I feel that you make a lot of assumptions in your comments and I’m trying to understand the root of them in my post. For example, I have never made any statement on same sex marriage and am actually ambivalent on the issue ! I feel that you have categorised me with a set of predefined views– something you also accuse me of doing to Muslims!
Let me answer some of the points your have made. I do appreciate the time you took to read and respond to my post and it has also forced me to think carefully.
Actually, the point of my post was not to say Muslim’s are violent as you believe, but to attempt to isolate a possibly radicalised tendency within Ghana, who want to impose their religious beliefs on everyone else. These are the people that attempt to gain political power (I don’t believe most Muslims are seeking power). We also have them in the UK and they make no secret of their aims. I’m hope you will agree that there are these types of Islamic organisations.
You suggest my British culture is “islamophobic”. But I could argue you have to accept it because it’s my culture. Because you want me to accept your “homophobia” because it is your culture. Is there a difference?
I don’t usually use words such as homophobic and islamophobic because I believe they close dialogue when we need to keep talking. I’m only using them to make my point. There is a lot of debate to be had around the terms culture, universal human rights and so on. I’m still not sure where I stand.
I would like to try an experiment and use the same language you apply to homosexuality to Islam and see how it looks – Islam is “abominable and shameful”. It is a “stupid practise”. Are these acceptable terms to talk about things we may not like? I would argue they are deliberately emotive and irrational and only useful in rabble rousing which, from your comments, I don’t believe you would associate yourself with. You are, of course, entitled to think these things. I also believe racists have the right to think bad things about black people. But saying them in a public context is a different issue as I feel we need to take care about the effects of our language. Something I know you would agree with!
I strongly doubt that this call for sharia is made from the top of the Islamic ‘ladder; in Ghana. If it is, then I am glad that muslims are in the stark minority. Forever may they remain there. There will never be sharia in Ghana. It is crude. I said it.
One Law for All, a UK campaign group against Sharia Law has issued a report stating that Sharia Councils and Muslim Arbitration Tribunals are in violation of UK law, public policy and human rights.
http://www.onelawforall.org.uk/new-report-sharia-law-in-britain-a-threat-to-one-law-for-all-and-equal-rights/
The campaign spokesperson is Maryam Namazie who is also spokesperson for the Council of Ex-Muslims of Britain.
Interestingly, the Maslaha concept of Islamic law considers the public’s interest primary when dealing with matters between human beings. Public interest surely differs according to cultures and developments within them. Therefore much of Sharia would go against the public interest in the UK. But what about Ghana and it’s evolving culture?
Graham, honestly, I think there should a line drawn between culture, value, what makes a people and human rights on the other end. If advocating the ‘rights’ of 10 people will mean disregarding what we as a people believe in, I cannot be for it. My stance is that they can do what they want, only if their acts will not cause my 10 year old brother to think similarly. And they cannot. Hence, opposition.
But, the Islam issue, I don’t even know how to approach it. Sharia will not be implemented in Ghana, not in the Northern part or anywhere. It will not succeed. As far as I know, Muslims, Traditionalists, Christians all have very cordial relationships in Ghana. We have managed to live together as a people. ANd so shall it be.
If the people decide to pass a more explicit law banning the practice of homosexuality or lesbianism, so be it.
Sorry, I left this out. I’ve live here for 23 years. I’m very sure I know how we were as a people, what we believed in, feared, hated and what we are. There is no people with a stagnant culture, but they choose what becomes part of it. ANd if Britain chooses homosexualism or anything like that, it’s unto them.
Your question about how Ghana would react in terms of public interest? Haven’t you should our reaction already? I think we know what Ghana is, anyway. Cheers
Hi Nana Yaw – thanks for your thoughts. Well you raised some interesting questions which I would like to throw back to you. I also edited your two comments together so I hope you don’t mind.
I was curious as to your statement that 10 people are expendable. I wondered how many people there would need to be for them to have have any value as a group?
My main point is that as soon as we put an issue beyond rational thought we cannot find solutions. When misinformation, the type we saw at the Takoradi demonstration, is fed to the public it blinds us further. In Ghana, religious dogma and also people’s irrational gut feelings have prevented reasonable discussion on some issues, particularly homosexuality. Irrationality has helped rally people throughout history behind fake causes – we must always be on our guard as to the reasons behind the proclamations no matter our personal views.
But the situation in Ghana now seems to be changing on homosexuality from when I first arrived when no rational discussion seemed possible. Thinking people are now able to look beyond their initial feelings and consider the issues in a reflective way. From Ghanaian films, news articles, to chat shows, the atmosphere is becoming one of calm discussion.
It appears to me is that different tribes have different responses regarding homosexual behaviour and that it has always been part of Ghanaian culture but has been ‘managed’, sometimes through what we in my culture would call hypocrisy. Ghana is very much in the same position that my culture was over 50 years ago with exactly the same arguments against it. It is also starting to change for the same reasons. The changing nature of Ghana’s society is creating a space for individuals to come together and say they now refuse to continue the lies. I believe Ghanaians will find a new way to ‘manage’ this issue in their inimitable way of allowing everyone to come away happy!