Sharia versus Rules of Law
The most significant event today is the aggressive movement of the Islamist to restore their holy law. The Islamist view the introduction of the Sharia as the only mean to solve social, moral, political and economic problems. Because of their mordant behavior, the global international order is shaken. To blame are politicians and other groups supporting or tolerating Islamist activities for reasons of their own particular in the past. Unfortunately, those people don’t understand Islamic-Law or know much of its content or what it is supposed to achieve. Islamic law means different things to different people with different interpretations. One of the pressing questions is to what extent, – in theory and practice -, confirms the Islamic law to the “Rules of Law” applied in democratic countries. The application of the Islamic Law varies enormously. Constitutional scholars view the Islamic Law as the political function. Every Islamic group puts its priority on particular aspects ignoring much else. Religious Islamic scholars are recognized as guards, interpreters and transmitters of Islamic Law; therefore, they dominate how the Islamic Law should be applied in private, business, social and political matters. Contrary to most democratic countries the rulers of Islamic countries are accountable to Islamic Law. Liberal educated citizen consider the influence of conservative and radical Islamism in Europe with significant concerns while their opponents see the Sharia as a cultural asset. They could well imagine that in addition to our justice, – complying to our mentally and culture -, the Sharia shall be launched establishing a form of parallel society. Liberal citizens trust that Muslim thinkers in Europe will force a European-style Islam. Most experts are against the ideology of multiculturalism, but also warn of intolerance.The Sharia has a substantial impact on Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) not only in Muslim countries. ; It is an important issue which needs to be addressed and shall be further elaborated in religious dialogue and Global Ethics, Government Accountability, equal access to justice and the political process, and efficiency of the legal, political and economic systems, clear and stable laws, protection of human rights, property rights and trust.
Roland Leithenmayr VfV
Gebhard Fidler and Richard Löffler of VfV are involved among others to draw an Austrian Standard ONR 142001 for Islamic Finance.
NGO Committee on Sustainable Development Vienna 