Libya's Future... Sharia Law?

by: Les Carpenter
Rational Nation USA
Liberty -vs- Tyranny

With the demise of Libyan dictator Col. Qaddafi the world now waits to see what law will replace the prior 42 years of oppression. Given early appearances it may well be a law just as oppressive as Col. Qaddafi's.

Libya's interim leader outlined more radical plans to introduce Islamic law than expected as he declared the official liberation of the country.

Mustafa Abdul-Jalil, the chairman of the National Transitional Council and de fact president, had already declared that Libyan laws in future would have Sharia, the Islamic code, as its "basic source".

But that formulation can be interpreted in many ways - it was also the basis of Egypt's largely secular constitution under President Hosni Mubarak, and remains so after his fall.

Mr Abdul-Jalil went further, specifically lifting immediately, by decree, one law from Col. Gaddafi's era that he said was in conflict with Sharia - that banning polygamy.

In a blow to those who hoped to see Libya's economy integrate further into the western world, he announced that in future bank regulations would ban the charging of interest, in line with Sharia. "Interest creates disease and hatred among people," he said.

Gulf states like the United Arab Emirates, and other Muslim countries, have pioneered the development of Sharia-compliant banks which charge fees rather than interest for loans but they normally run alongside western-style banks.

And if the Libyan people are good with it, then, as the song says "Let it Be."

Via: Memeorandum

Update: President Obama weighs in here.