Sharia Law in Somalia

[Uwila]

All I can really think right now is.... YIKES! Eloping is illegal? Two people want to get married and they are forbidden. What sense does this make?

Okay, am I biased in my Western way of thinking. Is this a good thing? Someone enlighten me.

Somalians learn to follow the Law

so you think that someone who remains illeterate is better than someone who's brought up to read and write - all be it under Sharia Law??

Well, I've looke it up now. And Somalia is well and truly an Islamic country (sunni muslems mostly). So, I dare say we'd be hard pressed to dictate that we won't support that religeon. However, I personally, do draw a line between good muslems and Sharia Law. (I wonder if Peacedove will be on here any time soon)

What I was really think was to support girls/women to get educated in math, science, medicine, Law, IT, Banking... something that will allow them to be self sufficient.

I don't know HRH. It a conundrum for me because on one hand I want every child in the world to be able to read and write etc but on the other I don't want children to be programmed into a narrow-minded, medieval fundamentalist view of the world. IYKWIM.

The way I see it is if a child learns to read and write, the opportunity will be there in the future for them to learn more about freedom of speech and do something about it....if they can't read and write they'll probably never even have the slightest chance.

I agree with HRH. Any education is better than no education. Thats what gives them their freedom. I believe that one of the reasons that they don't educate women is to control them. They feel that if women are educated that they won't put up with their tyranny.

Of course keeping people ignorant is the best way of controling them and teaching a child to read and write does open all sorts of doors. So yes, HRH, a bad education is better than no education at all.

I also think you have to look at what sort of education is affordable. Somalia is hardly as well off as Great Britian. A well rounded education can be expensive. Its mostly religious organizations in these countrys that fund the schools to begin with.