The One Law For All Campaign:
Against Sharia and Religious Laws
What is the One Law For All Campaign?
NO SHARIA
THE AIM SAY NO TO SHARIA LAW!
Please sign this petition and support the global campaign against Sharia and Religious Laws.
Declaration
We, the undersigned individuals and organisations, call on the UK government to bring an end to the use and institutionalisation of Sharia and all religious laws and to guarantee equal citizenship rights for all.
Sharia law is discriminatory
Sharia Councils and Muslim Arbitration Tribunals are discriminatory, particularly against women and children, and in violation of universal human rights.
Sharia law is unfair and unjust in civil matters
Proponents argue that the implementation of Sharia is justified when limited to civil matters, such as child custody, divorce and inheritance. In fact, it is civil matters that are one of the main cornerstones of the subjugation of and discrimination against women and children. Under Sharia law a woman’s testimony is worth half that of a man’s; a woman’s marriage contract is between her male guardian and her husband. A man can have four wives and divorce his wife by simple repudiation, whereas a woman must give reasons, some of which are extremely difficult to prove. Child custody reverts to the father at a preset age, even if the father is abusive; women who remarry lose custody of their children; and sons are entitled to inherit twice the share of daughters.
The voluntary nature of Sharia courts is a sham
Proponents argue that those who choose to make use of Sharia courts and tribunals do so voluntarily and that according to the Arbitration Act parties are free to agree upon how their disputes are resolved. In reality, many of those dealt with by Sharia courts are from the most marginalised segments of society with little or no knowledge of their rights under British law. Many, particularly women, are pressured into going to these courts and abiding by their decisions. More importantly, those who fail to make use of Sharia law or seek to opt out will be made to feel guilty and can be treated as apostates and outcasts.
Even if completely voluntary, which is untrue, the discriminatory nature of the courts would be sufficient reason to bring an end to their use and implementation.
Sharia law is a quick and cheap way to injustice
Proponents argue that Sharia courts are an alternative method of dispute resolution and curb legal aid costs. When it comes to people’s rights, however, cuts in costs and speed can only bring about serious miscarriages of justice. Many of the laws that Sharia courts and religious tribunals aim to avoid have been fought for over centuries in order to improve the rights of those most in need of protection in society.
Sharia law doesn’t promote minority rights and social cohesion
Proponents argue that the right to be governed by Sharia law is necessary to defend minority rights. Having the right to religion or atheism, however, is not the same as having the ‘right’ to be governed by religious laws. This is merely a prescription for discrimination, inequality and culturally relative rights. Rather than defending rights, it discriminates and sets up different and separate systems, standards and norms for ‘different’ people. It reinforces the fragmentation of society, and leaves large numbers of people, particularly women and children, at the mercy of elders and imams. It increases marginalisation and the further segregation of immigrant communities. It ensures that immigrants and new arrivals remain forever minorities and never equal citizens.
One Law For All
Rights, justice, inclusion, equality and respect are for people, not beliefs. In a civil society, people must have full citizenship rights and equality under the law. Clearly, Sharia law contravenes fundamental human rights. In order to safeguard the rights and freedoms of all those living in Britain, there must be one secular law for all and no Sharia.
Petition
One Law for All
* We call on the UK government to recognise that Sharia and all religious laws are arbitrary and discriminatory against women and children in particular. Citizenship and human rights are non-negotiable.
* We demand an end to all Sharia courts and religious tribunals on the basis that they work against and not for equality and human rights.
* We demand that the law be amended so that all religious tribunals are banned from operating within and outside of the legal system.
One Law For All Campaign AIM Contribution
Besides raising awareness about the One Law For All Campaign online and offline we also attend various campaign events.
On November 23 2009 AIM street poets AK47 and Lilith, with AIM Clika supporter and guest poet Christine, performed political poetry on the issues of Sharia Law, Political Islam and Western Militarism/Imperialism to a crowd of hundreds at a rally against Sharia Law at Hyde Park. The rally and AIM Clika street poets were a massive success and the AIM Clika soldiers had the opportunity to meet the spokesperson for the campaign, Iranian human rights activist Maryam Namazie, and other key people from One Law For All and the Council of Ex-Muslims of Britain. Read a review of the event here.
Street Poet Lilith performing her poem "A Clash of Uncivillizations" on behalf of The Anti-Injustice Movement at the One Law For All rally in Hyde Park, London on November 21st 2009.
On June 20 2010 a number of AIM members made another trip to London to take part in a protest against Sharia and Religious Laws outside Downing Street followed by a march through London to a short protest outside the UK embassy of The Islamic Republic of Iran. The days events also marked the one year anniversary of the murder of Iranian student Neda Afgha-Soltan while protesting in Tehran against the disputed result of the 2009 elections. The events were attended by AIM members Santa Maria, Lilith, Brent Lee Regan, CubanoAFuego and a number of AIM supporters. AIM poets Lilith and Brent Lee Regan each performed a piece of their poetry to the crowds of protesters and passersby. Santa Maria taped her 'Letter To Neda' to the railings outside the embassy at the end of the day. Throughout the day we were also able to gather a large number of signatures on petitions to The UN and letters to the UK Prime Minister asking for pressure to be applied to have Iran removed from the UN Commission on the Status of Women. You can read the One Law For All event report here.
Street Poet Lilith performing her poem "Dirty Linen" on behalf of The Anti-Injustice Movement at The One Law For All rally opposite Downing Street, London on June 20th 2010.
MC/Street Poet Brent Lee Regan performs his poem "We Are Strange" on behalf of The Anti-Injustice Movement at The One Law For All rally opposite Downing Street, London on June 20th 2010.
On the 11th of February 2012 AIM Poet Lilith attended The One Law for All London Rally for Free Expression along with people from a variety of different secular and human rights organizations. She also had the honor of meeting famous biologist and atheist
Richard Dawkins.
Street Poet Lilith performing her poem "Vow of No Silence" on behalf of The Anti-Injustice Movement at The One Law For All London Rally For Freedom of Speech in London on February 11th 20th 2012.
Street Poet Lilith expressing her views on the Mohammed and Jesus cartoon controversies.
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