Libya’s Lurch Toward Sharia Law Sends Chill Throughout Christian Community

Qur’an Sura 18:26, “[Allah] maketh none to share in his government.”

By Perry Chiaramonte, Fox News – “Libya’s recent edict that its coming constitution will be based on Shariah law has sent a chill through the North African nation’s small Christian community.

Libya’s Coptic Christians, who number about 300,000, or 5 percent of the population, were allowed to practice their faith under dictator Muammar Qaddafi. But since the strongman was ousted from power, and ultimately killed, Muslim fundamentalists have increasingly filled the power void. Last month, the national assembly voted in favor of making Koranic law, or Shariah, the basis of all legislative decisions, meaning Islam will shape all future banking, criminal and financial cases.

‘Islamic law is the source of legislation in Libya,’ stated the General National Congress in a statement released shortly after the vote was held. ‘All state institutions need to comply with this.’

A special committee has begun reviewing existing laws to ensure that they comply with Shariah, according to a recent report.

The emerging political and legal system’s orientation, combined with the rise of militants in the oil-rich nation, has left Christians feeling like the promise of democracy in the wake of Qaddafi’s fall has been broken.

‘NATO went to war in Libya on the basis of a full democracy,’ Patrick Sookhdeo, international director for human rights group The Barnabus Fund, told FoxNews.com. ‘But what we have ended up with is a fractured government in which religious extremism of the worst kind has now taken over the government.’

‘The concern is that this conflict has produced the exact opposite of a democratic government,’ he added.” Read more.

Flashback: Libya: Group Of Muslims Tie Up And Execute Christians For Refusing To Convert To Islam – “A group of Muslims robbed two Egyptian Christians living in Libya, then tied up and shot them to death after the two Copts refused their demand to convert to Islam, relatives said… No one has been arrested in connection with the killings. The attack marks the third time in two weeks that a Coptic Christian has been robbed and killed in Derna District, which along with the surrounding region is known as a hotbed of extremist Islamic activity.” Read more.

Flashback: Mass Arrests Of Christians, Reports Of Torture, Inconsistencies In Official Statements – ‘What Is Going On In Libya?’ – “Last week’s news of four Christian missionaries in Libya placed under arrest, possibly facing the death penalty for ‘proselytizing,’ is apparently the tip of the iceberg. Yesterday, Arabic media reported that over 100 Christian Copts from Egypt, who appear to have been living and working in Libya, were recently arrested in Ben Ghazi—also on the accusation, or pretext, of being ‘Christian missionaries.’” Read more.

Flashback: Benghazi Friday Sermon: Destroy Christians And Jews, ‘The Time Has Come For Us To Adopt A Firm Stance …To Detonate Our Wrath Upon Them’ – “Indeed, oh Muslims, the time has come for us to adopt a firm stance, and to detonate our wrath upon them, with deeds they will not be able to ignore. Let us stab them in their main artery, the secret behind their power. Let us stab them in their economy. The Prophet Muhammad said: ‘Wage Jihad against the polytheists [Christians], using your wealth, your hands, and your tongues.’ Oh Allah, destroy the rancorous Christians. Oh Allah, destroy the rancorous Christians, and the corrupting Jews. Oh Allah, destroy them …” Read more.