format_quote Originally Posted by
Independent
It certainly is uneven - but I have seen it suggested sometimes that there is an increase in violent crime in Europe because of lack of religious zeal, whereas in fact the opposite is the case.
You live in South Africa if i remember? I visited there some years ago and i was stunned at the level of violent crime and the effect on society. I remember reading one of the main national newspapers and practically every story on the front page was an account of a murder. I remember too being warned not to stop on the motorway from Cape Town airport, because it was a ruse to mug people. And I could see the extraordinary security features that many people surrounded their homes with. It's tragic in a place of such stunning natural beauty and a serious threat to the health of the country as a whole.
^That is unfortunately, a pretty accurate description of our country at the moment.
I was just at our jamiat's offices ('jamiat' is the council/ union of islamic scholars) - after a previous robbery/ hostage situation, they have tightened up security......situated on the first floor, they now have a burglar guard at each
landing -
5 in total, before one can even enter the office!
I was thinking that if this is what the jamiat requires for security, then I think the rest of us may be in trouble, lol!
As you have mentioned, the beauty of this country (it is a splendid blend of nature/ wild-life, city life, beautiful coast-lines and great weather) is marred by such high crime levels.
Living in such a society affects one psychologically as well - theres a heightened sense of awareness at most times, it breeds over-suspicion (e.g. you do not
ever give lifts to strangers - no matter how desperate their situation may appear, for fear of being hijacked), kids dont go to the parks anymore, middle-upper class folk will never be seen walking/ cycling alone on the streets (cyclists even get hijacked of their bicycles if they are not in groups!), you learn never to leave your hand-bags/ valuables on the passenger seat in your car (as a result of 'smash and grab' incidents).
A typical home in a complex has barbed wire, an alarm, burglar guards, 24-hour security, armed response, access-controlled entrance.......and many times, still will get broken in to!
(if you have been following the Oscar Pistorius murder case - his version of events is actually plausible to many in this country, for these reasons)
Personally if I had the chance to emigrate (e.g. to Saudi), I would do so in a heart-beat.
Its most amazing to see shop-keepers simply cover their goods with a cloth and head for prayers - with no concern at all for theft.
I think that the only way to get crime levels down (in countries such as mine), is to implement Shariah law.
We do not need any more prisons that are over-flowing, housing prisoners under in-humane conditions and costing the country millions each year.
We need a few 'examples' to be made of - a few hands lost for theft, for example, will be enough of a deterrent for the rest of society.
SubhanAllah, again we see the amazing wisdom in the laws of Allah.
It is when we leave these commands behind, that society suffers in so many ways.