No Shariah Law in Detroit

For this Freedom Friday I want to bring to your attention something that happened in Michigan a few weeks ago. The Detroit News carried a story on September 23, 2010, about Muslim leaders there demanding that prosecutors press charges against a man who burned a Koran outside a mosque in East Lansing. Stuart Dunnings III, prosecuting attorney in Ingham County, stood firm for the rule of law. He said that authorities "didn't find there was any violation of Michigan law."

Dunnings also said that burning a Koran did not qualify as a hate crime. "We don't have a hate crime. There was no threat of physical intimidation because (the man who burned the Koran) was the only one there at the time." He said that the act was protected by the First Amendment and could be compared to burning a flag.

Apparently there was intense pressure from the local Muslim leaders. Dawud Walid, executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations-Michigan said that the man who burned the Koran should face federal charges. "Not to prosecute this hate crime would send a terrible message to bigots that there will be no legal repercussion against those who intimidate Muslims at their houses of worship, he said.

Prosecutor Dunnings should be applauded for standing firm for the rule of law in America. His courage in standing on principle can be compared to an incident that apparently happened in Great Britain. According to an article in The Daily Mail, "Six suspects were seized after allegedly torching the Muslim holy book in the backyard of a pub… Two men were arrested on suspicion of stirring racial hatred, and have since been released on bail. On Wednesday (9/23/10) four more Gateshead men were arrested and bailed …. "

In order for us to keep the Constitution as the supreme law of the United States, we must have leaders who have the knowledge of the law and have the courage to stand against intense pressure to favor any one group over another.