Pakistan truce includes enforcement of Islamic law

Pakistan truce includes enforcement of Islamic law

www.examiner.com

ISLAMABAD (Map, News) - Pakistani officials closed in on a peace deal with a Taliban-linked group Sunday that could lead to enforcement of Islamic law in a part of the country that is supposed to be fully under government control. Militants in the Swat Valley responded by declaring a 10-day cease-fire as a goodwill gesture.

The agreement is expected to be formally announced Monday - and draw criticism from the United States, which has said such deals merely give insurgents time to regroup.

Several past deals with militants have failed, but Pakistan says force alone cannot defeat al-Qaida and Taliban fighters wreaking havoc in its northwest and attacking U.S. troops in neighboring Afghanistan.

(visit the link for the full news article)

There have been many truces attempted between Pakistan, Al Quaeda and the Taliban and they haven't worked. Let's hope this one sticks, if for no reason other than the safety of the American troops. Hopefully, some progress will be made in their fight against the militant terrorist groups.

Call me a cultural imperialist, but I personally can't think of anything worse than living under Islamic law, especially because I'm a woman. But that law is part of the culture of the people of that region, and it may be the only rule under which these groups can function effectively, so maybe it's the best thing for them and for peace.



www.examiner.com
(visit the link for the full news article)

[edit on 15-2-2009 by Sestias]

Ok the problem I have.
Isn't Islam a religion?
Then how can it be law?
When you put religion into laws, then isn't it becoming, a Dr evil cult like state?

are you asking if islam is a religion?
it means the laws inscribed within the qur'an. like the ten commandments... durrr

Pakistan is the problem. Thanks to the NATO support of that dictator and NATO gave them nukes.

Way to go NATO.

Originally posted by BorgHoffen
Ok the problem I have.
Isn't Islam a religion?
Then how can it be law?
When you put religion into laws, then isn't it becoming, a Dr evil cult like state?

Islam is a religion. It's also a culture. Some Islamic countries, like Iran and Saudi Arabia, are theocracies governed by Islamic clerics and enforce Islamic law. There are other countries, like Iraq, which have a majority Muslim population but have a secular government, so there's some separation of church and state, but less than we have here.

The notion of the separation of church and state is a predominantly western idea, and fairly recent in terms of world history. I believe the U.S. was the first country to write that separation into their Constitution.

I wouldn't have it any other way. But much of the rest of the world is of a different opinion.

Whether a theocracy is evil or not would depend on one's religious convictions.

I have read more about Pakistan and the implementation of Sharia law in the Swat region.

To my western way of thinking it seems especially harsh, especially toward women. The Taliban have closed many schools for girls and do not want women to leave their homes without a male escort.

This seems especially hard on women who have to work for a living. Not everyone has a husband or family to provide for her.

I wonder what happens if she wants a divorce?

So as long as it doesn't cause conflict it is okay to opress people? I don't give 2 s's about whether it is a religion, culture or a fad, hardline Islam as well as fundamentalist christianity needs to be dealt with and cannot be allow to fester in a civilized country. Even moderates in both religions agree that hardliners are archaic and medieval in thier beliefs. You honestly cannot believe that letting women suffer as they do, is okay. I refuse to believe that.

[edit on 16-2-2009 by djvexd]

reply to post by Sestias


Hi sorry, not so keen about that search function.
But again It were the British who supported the massively builded Islamic schools during the cold war to oppose the good old commies..And this is the result. I didn't know about the reports this was actually a truce?
If the west is smart and adopt the old fashion command and conquer strategies, why not let Iran participate in this area and eliminate this threat? [maybe they can even destroy each other and doing us a favor]
This whole thing also seems to me like a beginning of the end of the Musharaf regime..
We should oppose this and intervene, at least for the sake of all those women..


[edit on 17-2-2009 by Foppezao]

Originally posted by djvexd You honestly cannot believe that letting women suffer as they do, is okay. I refuse to believe that.
[edit on 16-2-2009 by djvexd]

I certainly haven't said that anywhere in this thread. I have said that as a westerner I find Sharia law oppressive to women.