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In Tampa, Florida, a dispute arose over who controls the funds a mosque received in 2008 from an eminent domain proceeding.
Former trustees of the mosque are claiming in court they have the right to the funds. Current mosque leaders are disputing that claim.
The current mosque leaders want the case decided according to secular, Florida civil law, and their attorney has been vigorously arguing the case accordingly.
The former trustees of the mosque want the case decided according to sharia law.
Here’s the kicker.
The judge recently ruled “This case will proceed under Ecclesiastical Islamic law,” (sharia law), “pursuant to the Qur’an.”
You can read the judge’s ruling here.
Now it’s not unusual for a dispute to arise within a religious institution and for a court to order a mediation or arbitration, in order to resolve this without the court having to render its own judgment.
But what makes this case unusual, and highly troubling, is that a group of Muslim leaders—the CURRENT mosque leaders—who do NOT want to be subject to sharia law, are being compelled to do so by an American judge!
The judge in reference is the Honorable Richard A. Nielsen, Circuit Court Judge in the Circuit Court of the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit in and for Hillsborough County (Tampa), Florida Civil Division.
The judges ruling states;
1. This case will proceed under Ecclesiastical Islamic Law.
2. Under Ecclesiastical Islamic, pursuant to the Qur’an, Islamic brothers should try to resolve a dispute among themselves. When the brothers are unable to do so, they can agree to present the dispute to the greater community of brothers within the mosque or the Muslim community for resolution. If that is not done or does not result in a resolution of the dispute, the dispute is to be presented to an Islamic judge for determination, and that is or can be A’lim.
3. The remainder of the hearing will be to determine whether Islamic dispute resolution procedures have been followed in this matter.
In effect, due process in an American court is being denied and Sharia law is being imposed on an unwilling participant. Right here in Florida.
Cross-Posted
Former trustees of the mosque are claiming in court they have the right to the funds. Current mosque leaders are disputing that claim.
The current mosque leaders want the case decided according to secular, Florida civil law, and their attorney has been vigorously arguing the case accordingly.
The former trustees of the mosque want the case decided according to sharia law.
Here’s the kicker.
The judge recently ruled “This case will proceed under Ecclesiastical Islamic law,” (sharia law), “pursuant to the Qur’an.”
You can read the judge’s ruling here.
Now it’s not unusual for a dispute to arise within a religious institution and for a court to order a mediation or arbitration, in order to resolve this without the court having to render its own judgment.
But what makes this case unusual, and highly troubling, is that a group of Muslim leaders—the CURRENT mosque leaders—who do NOT want to be subject to sharia law, are being compelled to do so by an American judge!
The judge in reference is the Honorable Richard A. Nielsen, Circuit Court Judge in the Circuit Court of the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit in and for Hillsborough County (Tampa), Florida Civil Division.
The judges ruling states;
1. This case will proceed under Ecclesiastical Islamic Law.
2. Under Ecclesiastical Islamic, pursuant to the Qur’an, Islamic brothers should try to resolve a dispute among themselves. When the brothers are unable to do so, they can agree to present the dispute to the greater community of brothers within the mosque or the Muslim community for resolution. If that is not done or does not result in a resolution of the dispute, the dispute is to be presented to an Islamic judge for determination, and that is or can be A’lim.
3. The remainder of the hearing will be to determine whether Islamic dispute resolution procedures have been followed in this matter.
In effect, due process in an American court is being denied and Sharia law is being imposed on an unwilling participant. Right here in Florida.
Cross-Posted
