A lawyer living in Iran sent in the below message when he found out about today’s seminar on Sharia and the Childrens Act. Whilst today’s seminar addresses Sharia courts here in Britain, it is astounding how similar Sharia rulings are no matter where you live.

Obviously the courts here in Britain deal primarily with family matters so child executions and punishments for crimes against ‘chastity’ don’t apply (as that’s part of Sharia’s criminal code). Nonetheless, there are many aspects that are applicable to children and young people in Britain, from forced and child marriages, inheritance, child veiling, violence against children, honour killings and matters around child custody to name a few. There will be more information on the situation here but for now, here is the lawyer’s letter:

Dear Maryam Namazie

I have been informed that you will attend the Sharia Law and Children Act seminar. As you know I am a lawyer in Iran, practicing as attorney at law under Sharia law and Islamic regulations.

I wish I was there with you, not only as a lawyer but also as a victim and as a witness. I hope you can help me to have my voice heard at today’s seminar.

Dear audience, I am living in the country where according to Sharia law rulings here:

– A child is not eligible for any heritage from natural parents (natural parents against legal and Islamic married parents).(884. Civil code).
– A child born of adultery (non Islamic marriage) shall not belong to the adulterer.(1167. Civil code)
– A child must obey its parents (1177. civil code)
– Parents are entitled to punish their children (1179. civil code)
– Either the father or the paternal grandfather has the right of guardianship over his children.(1181. Civil code) {not mother}.
– A child will have the same criminal responsibility as adults when he reaches 14 years old and she reaches 8.5 years old (Sharia sexual puberty) (49.1. penal code). (Please note the difference between the Gregorian calendar and Ghamari calendar, 15 and 9 years in Ghamari calendar is about 14 and 8.5 years in Gregorian calendar)
-If either the father or the paternal grandfather murder their child or step child or children they would not punished like other murderers (Ghesas- death penalty) but must only pay some money to inheritors (220.penal code) and may be convicted to bear between 3 to 10 years jail (612. penal code-Tazirat). It should be mentioned that this jail penalty is not according to Sharia and legislators were forced to add this punishment recently because of societal pressures).
– Marriage before puberty with the permission of the male Guardian is legal and possible. (1041.Civil code) [It means even a 1 day old girl could easily be sold. I think it is rape and a crime. The only restriction in Sharia about the child wife is intercourse before 8.5 years old. Other sexual activities are permitted and considered halal. After 8.5 years old even intercourse is permitted.] It must be noted that under these rule, the man rules over the wife. For example, according to Quran 4th sura 34th Ayah (Soorato nesa ayatol 34) men are superior to women and even a husband should hit his wife in some conditions. So just think about those child wives in Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan and other Islamic countries.

This is Sharia law in theory and practice. It is naked Islam. I have studied it and now I am feeling and seeing it.

In summary I am a lawyer under the Sharia legal system under which a child could be beaten and raped legally or be accused and charged for any crime like an adult or be used for military activities in Basij force.

I want to be their voice, the voice of those who are beaten legally, and who can do nothing but cry in hiding…