I understand the care you want to take in judgements and applaud it. To me though, depending on the crime and punishment involved, one should not need 4 witnesses when one with evidence will suffice. Or 2 or 3.
That is my only bone of contention.
Regards
DL
4 witnesses are only required for adultery cases. Even then, if there is sufficient evidence (such as cctv) then the judge will of course take this into account since the primary concept of Sharia is justice. Modern times allow such eventualities; but in those places where this may not be available (say 3rd world countries for instance) then the 4 witnesses stand. Again, it's only for adultery cases.
That is better. It sound like the death penalty in some countries. It is in the books but is seldom if ever enacted.
LOL. Heh well I don't blame you - most people do not know of the exact rulings, I myself only learnt a year ago (I purchased a book on sharia, you can too - click the first link in my sig; cost you 12.75 but small price to pay for knowledge!).
Rather a nice system though if you happen to be a pick pocket. You could pick all week and if you happen to get caught, the penalty is rather light. A few dollars and away you go. Much lighter punishment than in most countries.
Depends on frequency; if one guy steals 2 items, the judge may be lenient in punishments (i.e. simply compensate the victim). Compared that to a guy who steals 10 items, judge will come down like a ton of bricks (i.e. full reimbursment plus cost of loss to business if he stole stock for instance): in any case, the punishment will fit the crime.
I am surprised that there is not more abuse of your systems or is there?
Regards
DL
I don't have sufficient data on countries that do administer these sorts of punishments to give you a decent answer. But, I do recall a documentary on Sharia law in Nigeria where the Hudd punishments were handed out. The presenter (whilst I thought she was biased towards Islam during the program) did actually admit that crime was low in general, indicating that the system was working. But, that's all the info I have; I'd like to think that is the case in all sharia-compliant countries but in honesty I do not know (I intend to do research on that, however)
That doesn't make any sense.
If I steal your gameboy, but give it you back (say an hour later) and it is in fine condition (exactly as it was when I took it), would you prosecute me? You have your gameboy back; there is no problem or cime any longer (other than you are understandably angry) since the situation has been rectified.
It would be a waste of yours, mine and the law's time to prosecute me over something that I have given back. Yeah I stole it, but I then gave it back - the cops would laugh in your face and the judge would throw it out of court and tell me to either compensate you in addition or tell you to stop wasting time over a trivial thing.
This also has the added benefit of not clogging up the legal system (which happens a lot in the UK and US btw for really, really stupid cases).
In sharia, to avoid bottle knecking the system with such stupid cases, these sorts of ''get-out'' cards exist. They are for minor crimes in light of bigger ones such as lawsuits, vandalism, rape etc. That's not to say theft isn't a serious crime, just that it is something far easier to rectify than say a rape and so doesn't always have to be taken to court.