Christian Peregin
What's wrong with chopping off thieves' hands, Imam asks
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 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.
The system was practised in Saudi Arabia for centuries and yielded results but many Muslim-majority countries believed in secularism and did not employ such practice, he said.
He conceded there were different kinds of Muslims who thought of Sharia differently. "But whoever denies this is not a Muslim," he said, adding the law of God was perfect.
He said there were many safeguards to ensure Sharia law was applied justly, through a court system that depended on having several witnesses. "This does not apply to thieves who are poor or hungry. This is for people who have everything and want more; people who are greedy... The point is to frighten criminals."
Fr Renè Camilleri, who was also a guest on the programme, said he was "shocked" by the Imam's comments.
"I tried to insist violence is unacceptable. The concept is horrific to me. It is equivalent to the death penalty. I know it is what Sharia law dictates but, coming from him, such a moderate and tolerant person, I was shocked," he said, adding he never considered the Imam to be a fundamentalist.
Reacting to the television debate, anthropologist Ranier Fsadni warned against "misunderstanding" the comments and said such views were probably not shared by all Muslims in Europe.
He said many migrated because they did not like the society they lived in, while a large number of others came from countries that did not believe Sharia was prescribed by the Quran or meant to be taken literally without taking the culture of the time into context.
"Just as a priest does not necessarily represent all his community, the Imam does not necessarily represent all Muslims in Malta. Then, again, he is respected and appreciated as a pastoral leader."
Mr Fsadni said the Imam was simply being "intellectually honest" and defending his belief and was not proposing the system for Malta. He was also honest about his views of democracy and the rule of the majority.
A video clip with the Imam's comment can be viewed on: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2e2gtOO029U .
23 Comments
Post comment
Please sign in or create your Account to post comments.
Emma Xerri
Nov 27th 2009, 03:39
For anyone who hasn't yet read it, I highly recommend Ms Nonie Darwish's book about Sharia, 'Cruel and Usual Punishment' . You can buy it on Amazon.com
Is the perfect layperson's guide to the ugliness of sharia; it's brief but fact-packed, beautifully lucid and she gives full and clear references to all the main sources.
It is high time we in the West understand what we are up against from a native Arabic (Egyptian) speaker and a former Muslim.
Emma Xerri
Nov 26th 2009, 20:40
For all of you here who wrote in support the chopping of hands being touted by the Imam - just be careful of what you are supporting, for one day it might be your hands or those of your grandchildren that might be on the chopping block, whether they be actually guilty or not. For along with barbaric and bloody punishments, Sharia jurisprudence is just as shoddy and Sharia police are not to fussy as to whom they convict and there is none of this innocent until proven guilty stuff.
It seems like some of our fellow Maltese can’t wait to get back to the Dark Ages.
gatt maria
Nov 26th 2009, 07:56
I have a question for who said Mr Sadi should apologise..first of all Mr. Sadi just expressed an opinion which he is supposed to be free to do, second, the gays and lesbians community are doing their job if they are paying taxes, just like any other citizen. Thirdly weren't u also showing hatred to muslim countries who make death penalties to gays and lesbians..or is it ok to show hatred to muslim countries but not ok to express an opinion about gays and lesbians?aren't u against stealing and killing?well there people who are against stealing of family values and killing of religious morals..aren't they free too?Now my question is...let's imagine we all become gays and lesbians..can you tell me who on earth will make babies? or shall we end the world? I think this is the value which mr. Sadi was speaking about...isn't that true?If it's a value it can be embraced by everyone without any harm..no?
Daniela Sharif
Nov 25th 2009, 06:47
The imam just expressed an opinion, is freedom of speech just entitled to Maltese? Isn't this racism? Afterall he just brought an example to explain his argument, he didn't intend to make any comparisons. Racism is far more punishable in the eyes of God, since he did create men in different races but he didn't create two Adams or two Eves, so the imam just said the truth, same sex marriages are not in God's law. And doing some research one can find that Bible confirms sharia law, moses ten commandments werent just limited to the famous 10, they were much more, swine flesh is prohibited in the Bible, gays are given a death sentence, the sinning hand is ordered by Jesus to be cut, adulterers are given stoning,pictures and engraved images are prohibited, to bow to them is a grave sin punishable by a jealous God in the Bible. Just because Christians have decided not to follow these laws,doesn't mean that Muslims are wrong in don't wanting to change God's eternal law.Muslims don't use symbols to pray, they just prostrate to one God on the ground.Is this wrong?
joseph Carmel Chetcuti
Nov 23rd 2009, 06:29
@Albert Muscat. Small wonder people have lost their faith in God. How more civilised to be an atheist or an agnostic. And for those Catholics who think they are so much better, may I respectfully turn their mind back to the inquisition. Yes, many years ago but those who suffered at their hands were like us of flesh and blood! Joseph Carmel Chetcuti
albert muscat
Nov 21st 2009, 14:20
Chopping a thief’s hand. (1).
I took the interest to investigate what Islam says about theft and I asked a qualified Muslim Imam about this serious punishment and I was informed the following:
Because cutting off the hand is a serious matter, it should not be done for just any case of theft. A combination of conditions must be fulfilled before the hand of a thief is cut off. These conditions are so many and quite complex, here I quote few:
- The thief must be an adult Muslim and aware of thief’s punishment in the Quran.
- The thief must be in good mental order and not poor or in dire need.
- The stolen property should be something of worth..
- The stolen thing should have been taken by stealth; if it was not taken by stealth, then the hand should not be cut off, such as when property has been seized by force in front of other people, because in this case the owner of the property could have asked for help to stop the thief.
- The value of the stolen property should be above a certain limit stipulated in Islamic court.
albert muscat
Nov 21st 2009, 05:16
Chopping a thief's hand. (2)
- The stolen property should have been taken from a place where it had been put away.
- The theft itself has to be proven, either by the testimony of two qualified witnesses or by the confession of the thief twice. In case of slightest suspension the punishment MUST NOT IS CARRIED OUT.
- MOST IMPORTANTLY, the person from whom the property was stolen has to ask for it back; if he does not, then (the thief’s) hand does not have to be cut off.
Yes it’s harsh punishment, however we don’t have to look at theft while setting behind a computer screen, sipping a hot coffee and passing a comment. We must look indepth at the cataclysmic sequences of thefts. Theft could drive companies out of business, families and kids could suffer and get destituted and dispossessed. Theft could also bankrupt the society, create insecurity, incohesion and social chaos. If this Sahria laws applicable on everyone then, why worry? Personally I don’t mind living under such laws. I fee safe, why should I steal after all? Don’t you like to live in a safe place? Sounds dandy for me indeed.
Dr Inġ. Patrick Attard
Nov 20th 2009, 15:09
The Imam should apologise to the Maltese and Lesbian community:
http://patrickattard.blogspot.com/2009/11/press-release-call-to-imam-to-apologise.html
Joe Xuereb
Nov 20th 2009, 13:35
I find it interesting that the Imam should select, out of a huge range of transgressions, homosexuality, same-sex marriage (that could transmogrify - hence, moggie, popular name for a cat - into marriage between humans and cats), adultery and abortion. What is it with religions and their obsessions with matters sexual? Islam comes down very hard on homosexuality. As does Catholicism of course. And yet, human sexuality being what it is, God-given to multiply - there's a paradox there somewhere but now is not the time - in the west at least it is noted that men without women reach out for each other, a peculiar sort of homosexuality. In prison. At sea. Well-documented. Of course, once free, the men resort to their basic 'normality'. I have not been at sea or prison - I'm a good boy, I am - but literature and films are replete with this interesting phenomenon. Men without women you see, they get desperate. I have travelled to Muslim countries like Tunisia where whole streets are open-door ante-rooms with a bed in a corner and women beckoning. Turkey is the same. Not Saudi Arabia I shouldn't wonder. Some societies have streets-cum-prisons.
E Compagno
Nov 20th 2009, 02:52
@ Muscat D
If she was married, she gets accused of adultery. And the punishment for adultery is stoning. Most rape victims never come forward becuse of this risk, and sharia apologists interpret the lack of rape reports in countries where sharia is implemented as "ah see, sharia scared the rapist away". Yeah, Right.
For those of you who are saying "but not all muslims want sharia blah blah blah" I tell you, find me one muslim who will say sharia is wrong. Or bad. Or unjust. Or barbaric even.
Like Imam said, muslims believe this is the perfect law, or they aren't muslims at all.
Joseph Carmel Chetcuti
Nov 19th 2009, 21:03
Congratulations Iman for sending Islam back to the Middle Ages. Never forget that the real enemies of any faith are those from within. Interpreting any text literally is the height of stupidity. May I also respectfully remind you of what the Koran (Chapter 2, Verse 190) says: "Fight in the cause of Allah those who fight you, but do not transgress limits; for Allah loves not transgressors." I wonder which side you are on! I hope Malta's politicians will come out strongly against his stance. As should the bishops of Malta and Gozo if they had any balls. Joseph Carmel Chetcuti
Peter Paul Sacco
Nov 19th 2009, 19:22
Until I read this article I had a lot of respect for Mr El Sadi. I guess this week he would have enjoyed the spectacle of a young woman stoned to death for adultery. A truly barbarian punishment! And since when does his God give him, a mere mortal like the rest of us, the power to mutilate another person's body or take away a life?
albert muscat
Nov 19th 2009, 19:10
Actually I am shocked at what Fr Rene Camilleri says!.
'Fr Renè Camilleri, who was also a guest on the programme, said he was "shocked" by the Imam's comments.'
Shall I take it Fr. Rene Camilleri knows it better than Jesus? Shouldn’t Fr. Rene be following what the Bible says about every thing, from sex before marriage (adultery) and theft?.
Could Fr. Rene enlighten us what the Bible says about theft? (Do I need to quote what the Bible says about theft????? Its shock indeed.
If Fr Renè Camilleri chose to ignore what the Bible says, why he expect the Imam to ignore the Quran?
Joe Xuereb
Nov 19th 2009, 19:10
I believe that this Imam is the same one who, some months back, said that the Maltese were becoming intolerant. I'll have to check it out.
Basically, the Imam is saying that our system is all wrong. And at least implying that Sharia Law works better. And, seeing that Muslims in Malta are now in profusion, and counting, they can stay. Any other refugees of a different religion, and immigrants from the EU countries can go wherever it is they came from. Such Muslim stayers can then start help the Maltese people's transition. JAF Farrugia and Fr. Joe Borg - http://www.timesofmalta.com/blogs/view/20090509/fr-joe-borg/should-there-be-more-mosques-in-malta - can co-ordinate. Jessica Debattista has the skills to be secretary and PR experience I am sure.
@ Ranier Fsadni. What, in words that even I can understand, do you mean exactly by 'the Imam was simply being intellectually honest'?
Muscat D
Nov 19th 2009, 19:07
This should indeed be a wakeup call to all Maltese.
THe imam should have told us how sharia is applied in Pakistan. If a woman is raped and does not have four muslim MALE adult witnesses she will be guilt of fornication outside marriage. This brings with it 100 lashes and a prision sentence. Such are the joys of sharia.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2006/sep/17/pakistan.theobserver
Still they are lucky. In iran a woman guilty of adultry would be half buried in the ground and stoned to death using orange sized stones.
MSciberras
Nov 19th 2009, 16:04
@Ranier Fsadni
Why do you feel the need to be the imam’s advocate? Interpretation of sacred texts – exegesis – is a tradition common to Islam, Judaism, Christianity and other faiths. The attempt to define God has exercised humanity for thousands of years – there is a common thread that runs from Aristotle and Plato to Thomas Aquinas and the present day. However the imam is the most prominent muslim in Malta; while how he thinks, as you point out, is not common to all muslims, the damage this man has done to the public perception of his community in Malta is immense. And yet........it also highlights that what we consider outrageous in the west is not considered to be so by great numbers of muslims. There should be outright condenmnation of his words, not debates about faith or attempts to excuse them. In a democratic socety you are free to believe what you wish – but persons in positions of authority (is not the imam closely involved with the running of a SCHOOL?) you cannot have people saying these things without repercussions. The imam did not advocate sharia for Malta but that was never the point.
Joseph Calleja
Nov 19th 2009, 15:36
If you follow the Sharia Law and practice that law, according to Imam Mohamed El Sadi, the Muslim leader in Malta, who believes chopping off the hands of thieves is a "deserving punishment, then one third of the people will be walking around missing hands? (QUOTE) So same-sex marriages, homosexuality, adultery and abortion, are all under the wrath of God. Yes, of course, I agree with everything Islamic." I don't know which God he is talking about, but my God does not agree with his God.
Joseph Schembri
Nov 19th 2009, 14:54
I expect Joseph Muscat leader of the opposition to speak out strongly against this because he has on several occasions spoken of the rights of gays to obtain civil partnerships.
I Expect Lawrence Gonzi prime minister to speak out strongly against this because in innumerable occasions he has spoken in favour of the Christian value of tolerance.
I expect Michael Brigulio. leader of Alternattiva Demokratika to speak out strongly against this because his party has constantly condemned the lack of rights of homosexuals and other minorities.
Ranier Fsadni
Nov 19th 2009, 11:12
The journalist attributes the following view to me in the fourth paragraph from the bottom: '[...] while a large number of others came from countries that did not believe Sharia was prescribed by the Quran or meant to be taken literally without taking the culture of the time into context.'
He may have had in mind my observation that many Muslim-majority states do not apply the punishments discussed in this article.
However, I said something very different from what has been attributed to me, even though it may have sounded similar. Perhaps I was not clear enough.
First, on who believes what: The disagreements over what Islam prescribes are to be found within Muslim-majority countries as much as across them; there is no 'country', as such, that believes this or that but schools of thought, 'communities of interpretation' and social movements.
Second, on belief concerning the Sharia's relationship to the Quran: For several reasons, the idea of the Sharia not being prescribed by the Quran would sound absurd to the vast majority of Muslims. What is argued over concerns how Islamic jurisprudence can most faithfully reflect the Quran; ie what one is to understand 'the Sharia' really to be.
MSciberras
Nov 19th 2009, 10:47
@Mr Ranier Fsadni
Bend your back more to be politically correct and you'll need my chiropractor......Sure he is intelectually honest …….! And you say ….”just as a priest does not necessarily represent all his community, the Imam does not necessarily represent all Muslims in Malta. Then, again, he is respected and appreciated as a pastoral leader." A priest DOES represent his Catholic community and there are no ifs and buts about it. If a member of that community disagrees with the priest, all well and good. But a priest toes the Vatican's line. Hard to simply accept that the man who represents muslims in Malta, who is a leading influence behind the one school that educates dozens of Maltese muslim children believes its OK to chop off hands of thieves perhaps? Of course if a Catholic schoolmaster had to express support for corporal punishment, he would be suspended from his job...... Exceptions are apparently allowed on your brain’s shockometer for imams who advocate amputations. Interpretations of the Koran by imams have more weight that the opinion of a mere priest because Islam has no central authority similar to the papacy to enforce a single doctrine - you should know that......
lgalea
Nov 19th 2009, 10:32
wally vella-zarb
Then if we value our values and do not want to go back to the dark ages we must and shall make sure that the majority never changes in a manner that such dark ages values will ever be imposed in Malta.
That is one of the dangers that we face with immigration, especially illegal immigration.
wally vella-zarb
Nov 19th 2009, 10:26
@ J.Azzopardi
"How long will it take for the Muslims to become a majority and then impose their rule ?"
Are you not shooting yourself in the foot with that question? Is it not customary in this country - and many others - for a majority to "impose their rule"?
Rather than accusing Dr Fsadni of "playing with words" there are two words that you might wish to ponder or play with: 'Democratic rule'.
J.Azzopardi
Nov 19th 2009, 10:11
>Mr Fsadni said the Imam was simply being "intellectually honest" and defending his belief and was not proposing the system for Malta. He was also honest about his views of democracy and the rule of the majority.<
Mr Fsadni stop playing with words.
How long will it take for the Muslims to become a majority and then impose their rule ?