Response to the Islamaphobes

I was going to title this article as "Why the West should not fear Sharia law in Libya and even if they do it's none of their business". I thought it may be too hefty as a title for a blog that has a tiny (and I'm not entirely consistent) readership. But it certainly summarises my views on this subject quite nicely.

Ever since the declaration of liberation of Libya from that non-Islamic tyrant Gaddafi, and after Mustafa Abdul-Jalil's speech in which he proclaimed the Libyan constitution will be based on Islamic Jurisprudence (often translated into English as Sharia law), that has been an uproar by a significantly large section of the self-righteous, arrogant and self-proclaimed flag bearers of a fair justice system of the Western media and politicians. "This will mean girls can no longer have an education", they bemoan. "Women driving cars in Libya? Don't be silly", they'll tell us. Even

"....it might have been better to have stuck with the devil we knew (Gaddafi) because we don't know what the 'devils we don't know' may end up doing" (have a listen here). 

This guy would rather see an evil, murderous, tyrannical leader remain in power torturing his people for another 42 years than to see Libya implement Islamic law. How messed up is this guy?

Can Libyan Jews return?

A Jewish man forced into exile from Libya since 1967, when he was 12 has returned to Tripoli. He still considers Libya his home and intends to reestablish a synagogue in the country. With the removal of gaddafi and the impending advent of a democratic state, he hopes that he and the few Libyan Jews of yesteryear can now return and live in peace and freedom. Certainly there should be no reason why not. After all, it was once their home. And Islam does not prohibit Jews from living in our lands.

However, it ought to be remembered that the Libyan Jewish population left the country not because of an evil regime. They left prior gaddafi taking over. It was the 1967 Arab war with Israel and the immense hatred of the Arab individuals for the state of Israel that brought this about. And nothing has changed. Israel still exists and still oppresses our Palestinian brethren. And we still hate them and they are still our enemies. And it is still a Jewish state. Therefore, though your average Jew may protest vociferously to the contrary, Jewish people are inextricably linked with the state of Israel. And when the question is brought up "should we, the Libyans, allow Jews back in the country?" The question of Israel inevitably arises and needs to be answered.

Libya's governmental system

The National Transitional Council of Libya is working hard behind the scenes to form an interim government that will take the country through to elections. The main job of this interim government is to stabilise Libya and also to determine/establish the form of government that Libya will follow. The formation of the government has so far been delayed multiple times and though I am not privy to the internal discussions that have caused the delays, it is certain that it is due to wranglings on personnel and probably the form it will take. After all, it is taken for granted that Libya will be a "democratic" nation, a term that in itself has more than one meaning. And should Libya be democratic at all? Is democracy compatible with a nation that is Islamic in it's central principle? These are immensely tough questions and there will be debate up and down the Mediterranean coast as to how to form the government. Libyans are never shy about being opinionated and on this issue, why not? This affects all our lives, including those of us living abroad.