Sharia not that impossible<\/p>\n
I refer to the interview in The Jakarta Post dated Jan. 4,
\n2003 titled The enforcement of sharia: Impossible, unviable in
\nwhich the paper interviewed Abdullahi Ahmed An'naim, Professor of
\nLaw at Emory University, United States.<\/p>\n
Since Abdullahi has been away from Sudan for more than two
\ndecades, he is not in a position to evaluate the Sudan
\nexperience fairly and justly, rather, he has been echoing the
\nnegative propaganda disseminated by rightist groups in the States
\nagainst Islam in general and Sudan in particular. In addition, he
\nmay be stuck in the eighties experience, which is completely
\ndifferent with what is going on now.<\/p>\n
Secondly, the Sudan experience in implementing sharia is very
\nold, and it has been applied partially in different aspects of
\nthe Sudanese Muslims' life for centuries. Though it was
\ninterrupted by British colonial rule in 1898, it has continued to
\nlargely govern all aspects of life throughout modern Sudanese
\nhistory, until some unapplied provisions, not more than 20
\npercent of the prevailing laws, were introduced in 1983.<\/p>\n
Later in 1991, the current government revised those laws, and
\nsince then, sharia has been applied in a very comprehensive way
\nin all aspects of life in Sudan peacefully, with the exemption of
\nnon-Muslims and South of Sudan from the provisions of any article
\nof law which carries a specific Islamic injunction not shared by
\ncreeds, as in the case of Hudud (Penalties).<\/p>\n
Furthermore, the application of Hudud which is of great
\nconcern to many, was made according to the penal code (1991),
\nwith strict safeguards for its application, and subject to the
\napproval of the Supreme Court.<\/p>\n
Moreover to safeguard the rights of non-Muslims, according to
\nthe 1998 Constitution of the Republic of Sudan \"All people are
\nequal in rights and duties as regards to function of public life,
\nand there shall be no discrimination by reason of race, sex, or
\nreligious creed. They are equal in eligibility for public posts
\nand offices and must not be discriminated on the basis of
\nwealth.\"<\/p>\n
Sudan, fortunately by the grace of Allah, has managed to set a
\ngood example of sharia application through building very
\nsuccessful and sound political, economic and social institutions.
\nFor instance, we have been applying successfully the Islamic
\nprinciples in our banking system for the past two decades, and
\nnow all commercial and insurance companies apply these principles
\nsmoothly, and many countries and institutions from all over the
\nworld, including Indonesia, have sought to learn from the
\nSudanese experience in these very important and crucial economic
\ntools. Our social institutions of zakat and takaful are working
\nwell and coping with the changing circumstances.<\/p>\n
This has enabled Sudan to accommodate the Muslim aspirations
\nas the majority in Sudan and guard carefully the rights of non-
\nMuslims with rational administration and good governance. Sudan
\nhas managed to build stability and is moving forward to achieve
\nprosperity. Given this fact sharia is relevant and applicable at
\nall places and at all times, since it covers all human
\nactivities, moral and material.<\/p>\n
BADRELDIN ABDALLA
\nCharge d'Affairs
\nSudanese Embassy
\nJakarta<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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