So Help Me…Allah?
Man, you had to know this was coming…
Debate Brews Over Use of Koran in Court
GREENSBORO, N.C. — Traditionally, witnesses taking the stand in court are sworn in by placing their hand on the Bible (search).
But when Muslims in Guilford County, N.C., tried to donate copies of the Koran (search) for courtroom use, judges turned them down.
I find it especially offensive when the Bible/Koran/Torah/Tipitaka/Old Laws used to swear by is held by a person in Seminole costume. A person can only take so much.
Public Service Announcement | Mr. Bingley | 
August 22, 2005 3:09 pm
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Do you promise to tell the whole truth and allah that you know about this situation?
Um, doesn’t the Koran suggest that it is legitimate, under jihad, to lie to the infidels? Why would any oath sworn on such a text be worth anything?
Yeah, but why would having a muslim swear on the bible be worth more?
As an atheist, swearing on the bible doesn’t mean squat to me.
I don’t think you should swear on anything. Honesty is implicit in the fact that you’re testifying and there are penalties if you lie, Bible oath or not. So do away with the oath and read a Miranda version to witnesses. I like that better.
“As a witness, you are compelled by the force of justice and the law to speak without a forked tongue. If your testimony is later proven to be false, you’ll be prosecuted. Do you understand and accept these terms?”
“Yup.”
“Okay, take your seat.”
Beautiful in it’s simplicity.
nice and simple. I like it. 🙂
I live to serve, Curtis.
Part of me likes that idea, Sis. Of course, the hand-on-Bible bit was there not just to remind the witness to tell the truth, it was also the court’s acknowledgement that there was an Authority beyond their own. Even with this the Folks in Robes tend to be short on humility and I’m not sure that we can dispense with it.