Comments on: Civil liberties, not understanding http://www.californiapatriot.org/blog/2006/08/31/civil-liberties-not-understanding/ news and views from uc berkeley Thu, 20 Nov 2008 16:19:24 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.2 By: Rufiath Yousuff http://www.californiapatriot.org/blog/2006/08/31/civil-liberties-not-understanding/#comment-14570 Rufiath Yousuff Tue, 05 Sep 2006 02:15:43 +0000 http://www.californiapatriot.org/blog/2006/08/31/civil-liberties-not-understanding/#comment-14570 Firstly, a correction as to my affiliation, I am from the National Muslim Law Students Association (NMLSA). Second a clarification. I agree with your comments that one need not be of a particular faith or espouse the same ideology of the accused to represent them. The Muslim community has very much appreciated the efforts of groups such as ACLU who have backed Muslims and any other group in the cause of justice. However, sometimes these efforts are not as effective when certain aspects of a person’s faith may not be apparent to the advocate, especially when the defendant Muslim is also unable to articulate its significance in their daily lives. One such situation was when the MTA had proposed having they logo printed on the headscarf of female Muslim employees. The argument which succeeded in ensuring that this logo would not appear on the front of the scarf was that, when prostrating in prayer, a Muslim must touch his/her head to the ground and connect with God. Thus, to have the MTA logo intervene with this connection is tantamount to submitting to another deity. It is instances such as these that I refer to; where a person of the Muslim faith can advocate appropriately and effectively because they have the dual characteristic of having a familiarity with these issues with the legal expertise to recognize the seriousness of the offence on civil liberties. Nevertheless I am in complete agreement that to advocate for a person on the grounds of justice and not their personage is a noble end. In fact it is one not solely reserved to those who aim is to observe the true American ideal. This ideal has actually been stated in the Quran, over 1425 years ago: "O You who believe! Stand out firmly for justice, as witnesses to Allah, even though it may be against yourselves, or your parents, or your kin; be he rich or poor, Allah is better protector of both (than you). So follow not the lusts (of your hearts), lest you may avoid justice, and if you distort your witness or refuse to do justice, verily, Allah is ever Well-Acquainted with what you do." (Chapter 4 [An-Nisa’- The Women]: Verse 135). As such it is an ideal that should be adopted by every Muslim, especially the American Muslim lawyers who, although currently addressing challenges affecting the Muslim community, also have obligations towards all those whose liberties are infringed upon. Firstly, a correction as to my affiliation, I am from the National Muslim Law Students Association (NMLSA).

Second a clarification.

I agree with your comments that one need not be of a particular faith or espouse the same ideology of the accused to represent them. The Muslim community has very much appreciated the efforts of groups such as ACLU who have backed Muslims and any other group in the cause of justice. However, sometimes these efforts are not as effective when certain aspects of a person’s faith may not be apparent to the advocate, especially when the defendant Muslim is also unable to articulate its significance in their daily lives.

One such situation was when the MTA had proposed having they logo printed on the headscarf of female Muslim employees. The argument which succeeded in ensuring that this logo would not appear on the front of the scarf was that, when prostrating in prayer, a Muslim must touch his/her head to the ground and connect with God. Thus, to have the MTA logo intervene with this connection is tantamount to submitting to another deity. It is instances such as these that I refer to; where a person of the Muslim faith can advocate appropriately and effectively because they have the dual characteristic of having a familiarity with these issues with the legal expertise to recognize the seriousness of the offence on civil liberties.

Nevertheless I am in complete agreement that to advocate for a person on the grounds of justice and not their personage is a noble end. In fact it is one not solely reserved to those who aim is to observe the true American ideal. This ideal has actually been stated in the Quran, over 1425 years ago: “O You who believe! Stand out firmly for justice, as witnesses to Allah, even though it may be against yourselves, or your parents, or your kin; be he rich or poor, Allah is better protector of both (than you). So follow not the lusts (of your hearts), lest you may avoid justice, and if you distort your witness or refuse to do justice, verily, Allah is ever Well-Acquainted with what you do.” (Chapter 4 [An-Nisa’- The Women]: Verse 135). As such it is an ideal that should be adopted by every Muslim, especially the American Muslim lawyers who, although currently addressing challenges affecting the Muslim community, also have obligations towards all those whose liberties are infringed upon.

]]> By: Yaman http://www.californiapatriot.org/blog/2006/08/31/civil-liberties-not-understanding/#comment-13892 Yaman Fri, 01 Sep 2006 08:29:57 +0000 http://www.californiapatriot.org/blog/2006/08/31/civil-liberties-not-understanding/#comment-13892 Not much to disagree with in this post, but I suppose it's crises like these that will lead to smoother assimilation in the future. So, even if they are joining for the wrong reasons--at least as we perceive them--the long-term effects may be positive. Not much to disagree with in this post, but I suppose it’s crises like these that will lead to smoother assimilation in the future. So, even if they are joining for the wrong reasons–at least as we perceive them–the long-term effects may be positive.

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