A survey of Muslims worldwide has found most would like sharia law implemented, but are divided on how.
A majority of Muslims around the world want sharia law to be implemented in their countries but are split on how it should be applied, according to a study.

The comprehensive Pew Research Centre survey conducted between 2008 and 2012 focused on 38,000 people in 39 countries drawn from a global Muslim community of 2.2 billion people.

A solid majority, notably in Asia, Africa and the Middle East, were in favour of sharia -- traditional Islamic law -- being adopted as "the law of the land" in their countries, it found.

"But I would also note that support for making sharia law does vary," said Jim Bell, Pew's director of international survey research.

From 12 per cent in Turkey, support for sharia as official national law stood at 56 per cent in Tunisia, 71 per cent in Nigeria, 72 per cent in Indonesia, 74 per cent in Egypt and 99 per cent in Afghanistan.

But Princeton University professor Amaney Jamal, a special adviser to the Washington-based Pew Research Centre, emphasised there is no one common understanding of sharia among all the world's Muslims.

"Sharia has different meanings, definitions and understandings, based on the actual experiences of countries with or without sharia," she said in a conference call with reporters analysing the findings.

Titled "The World's Muslims: Religion, Politics and Society," the study also revealed many Muslims favour applying sharia in the private sphere to settle family or property disputes.

However, in most countries surveyed, there was less support for severe punishments, such as cutting off the hands of thieves or executing people who convert from Islam to another faith.

A majority of Muslims are also in favour of freedom of religion, even while backing sharia.

In Pakistan, for example, 84 per cent of Muslims want sharia enshrined as official law but 75 per cent believe non-Muslims are free to practice their religion.

Around half of Muslims in the survey expressed concerns about religious extremism, particularly in Egypt, Iraq and Tunisia.

In most countries, a majority of Muslims said a wife must obey her husband, although a majority also said a woman should decide whether or not to wear a veil.

http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/1761518/Most-Muslims-want-sharia-law

freediver wrote on May 2^nd, 2013 at 6:12pm:


Perhaps you can enlighten us by clarifying exactly what "want shariah law" actually means?

In the Panorama programme, Nazir Afzal, the chief crown prosecutor for the Northwest, emphasised that "most of the [courts] are absolutely fine but there are some clearly, like this one, who are putting women at risk"

The article is based on a recent BBC Panorama programme you should try to watch it.