Pointing fingers. Raised voices. And one of the most contentious issues in modern-day society.
Independent senator Jacqui Lambie and Islamic youth leader Yassmin Abdel-Magied entered into a heated debate about Sharia Law on last night’s episode of Q&A.
“Anyone who supports Sharia Law in this country should be deported,” Lambie said.
And from there it was off.
“So… do you know what Sharia Law is?” Abdel-Magied fired back.
“People talk about Islam without knowing anything about it and they’re willing to completely negate my rights as a human being, as a woman, as a person with agency, simply because they have an idea of what my faith is really about,” the 25-year-old activist and founder of Youth Without Borders told the Tasmanian senator.
Abdel-Magied pointed out there is a difference between faith and culture. She told Lambie, and viewers, that she was born in Sudan and moved to Brisbane when she was a year and a half. She has lived in Australia her whole life.
"I am Australian, my culture is Australian. And I have travelled the world telling people how much I love Australia," Abdel-Magied said. It was an attempt to placate Lambie, and establish some common ground.
Lambie was having none of it.
"The fact is, we have one law in Australia and it is Australia law," the senator said. "It is is not Sharia Law. Not on my watch."
In response, Abdel-Magied told Lambie how Islamic teachings say you "follow the law of the land of which you are on". She also called Islam a "feminist faith".
"We got equal rights well before the Europeans; we don't take our husbands last names because we ain't their property; we were given the right to own land," she said.
Lambie asked about women's repression, about homosexuals being murdered. The show's host, Tony Jones, had to get involved. "Shouting will not solve anything," he told the two women.
He asked Abdel-Magied about her opinion of US President Donald Trump. She spoke about the danger of normalising Trump's rhetoric. The problem with this approach to "otherness".
"It hurts me deeply when my elected representatives don't want me in this country," she said.
Lambie's response?
"Stop playing the victim. We’ve had enough. Your ban got lifted. Get over it.”
Top Comments
Mammamia, I think it would be great if you were to add an article stating the facts about Sharia Law and what it means. So many people have no idea what they are talking about. For starters it is not even a 'law' but a set of principles for which Muslims follow (it does not apply to non-Muslims and further still, the most important principle of Sharia is that Muslims must obey the law of the land in which they reside in). People need to research topics they know nothing about before voicing their opinions.
Rant over....
Countries where Sharia Law predominates, affects Muslims and non Muslims alike.
Yours?
Yes it doesn't apply to non-Muslims because they've all been killed as kuffars or infidels or apostates under jihad
Them why are some muslims caning for sharia in australia if it's only a set of principles. There are conflicting and confusing messages about this from the Muslim community.
Sharia Law is very feminist, just ask Malala
I'm hoping she was being facetious