“Culture” should not be used as an argument in Australia nor anywhere else in the world, including countries under Islamic law. Respect, if not rights, of women needs to be upheld everywhere.

If it’s not possible to get past the most basic of human relationships how will we ever have widespread tolerance and respect between cultures and countries.

I can’t believe that the sort of abusive power being used over women is condoned or encouraged in any religious writing.

I’d change that to say:

“In incidents of domestic violence and other legal issues, Muslims must have an understanding of and compliance with Australian law if they expect to live here.”

It’s time for Muslims to assimilate to the laws and customs of the countries they move to instead of everyone else changing to suit them. If they don’t like it, they are free to move back where they came from.

Tom: It’d be nice if everyone just tuned them out – period.

Kevin: yeah, coming soon to a courtroom near you, I’m afraid

stackja: Thanks for the link – are you from Cape York?

IN mainstream Australia, we have a strong and enviable set of institutions that includes a representative political process, a sound judicial system and a set of national social norms that are egalitarian and encourage innovation and dynamism. But the experience of Cape York indigenous Australians with such institutions can sometimes be radically different from the mainstream, and can impose a high-level constraint on their opportunity to lead a rich and fulfilling life.

If this differential treatment of Muslim vs. non-Muslim DV comes to Canada or the US and the NOW gang doesn’t raise holy hell about this, they will have lost any and every right to be heard on women’s issues ever again, PERIOD.

Tom Blumer
bizzyBlog.com