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| Muslim Jurists Discuss Family Issues In West |
| 2004-06-23 |
| The five-day conference of the Assembly of Muslim Jurists In America (AMJA), currently hosted by Copenhagen, has problems facing Muslim families in the west high on its agenda. Participants, some non-Americans, had to meet in the Danish capital for their second conference, running until June 25, after several of them were denied entry visa to Washington, which has the assembly’s headquarters and which hosted the first round in 2002. Such issues as a Muslim woman to a non-Muslim, secret marriage, adoption, pregnancy from Zina (sexual intercourse outside wedlock), will be discussed at the conference, attended by jurists and scholars from the Islamic world. According to Shari`ah, a Muslim woman is not permitted to have a non-Muslim man as her husband. "The conference also probes such key issues and engagement in politics, elections and joining the membership of political parties," Raafat Osthman, one of the assembly founders, told IslamOnline.net. Participants are comparing notes on Muslims’ dealing with foreign courts and military institutions as well as participation in attacks against Muslims. Mohamed Fouad Al-Barazy, a member of the assembly and the head of the Islamic Society in Copenhagen, said the conference sheds light on the best way for Muslims to deal with others and handle public issues in western societies. He said the rights and obligations of Muslims living in the west are on the table, "much to the satisfaction" of officials in Denmark. Danish Minister of Ecclesiastical Affairs Tove Fergo attended the opening session of the conference on Monday, June 21. Fergo hailed the topics on the agenda, saying co-existence between peoples of different faiths and colors should be given due interest. Underlining her country respects Islam, the Danish official said, however, that some of its followers carry out inappropriate actions, which she said should be stopped. The chairman of the legal committee in the Danish Parliament also attended the inauguration, with a call on Muslims to comply with laws of countries where they live. Denmark agreed to host the conference of the assembly, mainly concerned about affairs of American Muslims, after the United States showed uneasiness over convening the event in the assembly’s headquarters in Washington, organizers told IOL. "Some would-be participants got a refuse response to their visa applications to the United States to attend the conference. Others feared abuse or harassment in American airports or after getting into the country," said Salah El-Sawy, the AMJA secretary general. "Other Islamic scholars refused to leave for the United States for psychological reasons, namely the US aggressions" on Islamic countries, he added. AMJA came into existence in October 2002 as a non-profit organization grouping selected jurists to serve Muslims in the west in general and in the United States in particular. It gives fatwas and lays down plans and researches concerning Muslims living in the United States. The members, including a cohort of renowned scholars, set out juristic solutions to social, political, cultural and educations problems facing Muslims. The body analyzes articles and other publications on Islam and correct any mistakes mentioned and hold training courses for imams in western countries. AMJA has a permanent committee of fatwa, with its seven members, all Shari’ah PhD holders, staying in the United States to respond to daily questions by the seven-million community members. They consult another panel of eight prominent scholars for consultations when necessary. |
| Posted by:TS(vice girl) |
| #3 Nah, Zina was a female TV warrior much lusted after by lesbians. Kinda ironic given the real context... |
| Posted by: Pappy 2004-06-23 10:39:58 PM |
| #2 Muslim jurists - now there's an oxymoron. |
| Posted by: Barbara Skolaut 2004-06-23 9:46:32 PM |
| #1 Zina...Wasn't that a chick beer? |
| Posted by: Dragon Fly 2004-06-23 7:31:01 PM |