Sharia Law in the Sudan
Sharia Law in the Sudan
16 MARCH 2010
The purpose of this paper is to define and discuss Sharia Law within the Combined Joint Task Force Horn of Africa area of responsibility, its influence in the Sudan, and its affect on U.S. interest in the region. Though Sharia Law represents a vital part of the customs and way of life for many countries in the Horn of Africa, specifically the Sudan, because of its roots in Islam and ancient Muslim traditions; it puts this area at odds with the western world which may jeopardize its ability for future trade and political relationships. In this paper, I will define Sharia and its origins in the Horn of Africa region and the Sudan, discuss the influence and affects that this ancient law has manifested on the society and politics of these countries, layout the U.S. stance on Sharia and how this could jeopardize U.S. African interest, future political alliances and business ventures. Sharia's influence on both personal status law and criminal law is highly controversial because of the cruel punishments associated with its application, such as amputation and stoning, and unequal treatment of women. The debate is growing as to whether Sharia can coexist with secularism and democracy. Despite the controversy, Sharia has shown tremendous growth and acceptance in the Horn of Africa in the last six centuries.
Sharia is the legal and moral code of Islam. Its origins in Africa date back to the 6th century. After the death of the prophet Muhammad in A.D. 632, Arabs left the dessert in hordes and invaded south into Egypt where they raided and pillaged for centuries until finally settling peacefully in the lands south of Aswan in the 14th century. Intermarriages between the Christian women of Nubia in northern Sudan and the nomadic Muslim Arab males from southern Egypt blurred the lines of religion which made it easier for Muslim missionaries to move south into the Sudan in the late 15th century. In the 16th and 17th centuries
16 MARCH 2010
The purpose of this paper is to define and discuss Sharia Law within the Combined Joint Task Force Horn of Africa area of responsibility, its influence in the Sudan, and its affect on U.S. interest in the region. Though Sharia Law represents a vital part of the customs and way of life for many countries in the Horn of Africa, specifically the Sudan, because of its roots in Islam and ancient Muslim traditions; it puts this area at odds with the western world which may jeopardize its ability for future trade and political relationships. In this paper, I will define Sharia and its origins in the Horn of Africa region and the Sudan, discuss the influence and affects that this ancient law has manifested on the society and politics of these countries, layout the U.S. stance on Sharia and how this could jeopardize U.S. African interest, future political alliances and business ventures. Sharia's influence on both personal status law and criminal law is highly controversial because of the cruel punishments associated with its application, such as amputation and stoning, and unequal treatment of women. The debate is growing as to whether Sharia can coexist with secularism and democracy. Despite the controversy, Sharia has shown tremendous growth and acceptance in the Horn of Africa in the last six centuries.
Sharia is the legal and moral code of Islam. Its origins in Africa date back to the 6th century. After the death of the prophet Muhammad in A.D. 632, Arabs left the dessert in hordes and invaded south into Egypt where they raided and pillaged for centuries until finally settling peacefully in the lands south of Aswan in the 14th century. Intermarriages between the Christian women of Nubia in northern Sudan and the nomadic Muslim Arab males from southern Egypt blurred the lines of religion which made it easier for Muslim missionaries to move south into the Sudan in the late 15th century. In the 16th and 17th centuries