An August 3rd PBS segment titled “The Shari’ah Controversy”, featuring KARAMAH’s Chair and Founder Dr. Azizah al-Hibri, focused on the issue of anti-Shari’ah legislation in the U.S. and what the controversy means for the religious freedom of American Muslims. Dr. al-Hibri explained the true definition of Shari’ah, and illustrated also the differences between divine law and human interpretations. While making this distinction, she also explained that there are indeed problematic applications of Shari’ah law elsewhere in the world, and that these issues stem largely from human misinterpretations.
To conclude, al-Hibri called above all for dialogue and understanding about Islam in the U.S. so as to avoid irrational fears about Shari’ah and its place in the American legal framework. Recently, this issue was also discussed at a civil rights town hall co-sponsored by KARAMAH and Shoulder-to-Shoulder. During the panel and Q&A session, dialogue included concerns about details of Shari’ah law, civil rights and freedom of religion in a U.S. context.
By way of KARAMAH events, panel discussions, written statements and scholarship published on our website, KARAMAH echoes concerns over Islamic misinterpretation and civil liberties, and hopes to promote education so as to ensure the protection of civil rights and religious freedom in this country.
To view the PBS segment, please click here.
For more information regarding KARAMAH scholarship and other activities, please visit our website at www.karamah.org.
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