. . . at least in Dearborn, Michigan. Here is a well written post from the blog ANSWERING MUSLIMS. For background on this, see my post, THE TRAMPLING OF FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS. Here's the story:
Sharia Judge Michael J. Callahan Nullifies the Fourth Amendment Rights of Christians in Michigan
Michigan's war against the Constitutional rights of Christians has reached its peak.
In every state in this country, with one exception, a police officer cannot seize a person or her property without probable cause (a reasonable belief that a person has committed a crime).
Today, Judge Michael J. Callahan ruled that the Fourth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution does not apply to Christians in the state of Michigan. If a Christian visits Michigan, she may be detained, seized, arrested, and thrown in jail based on no evidence whatsoever.
At last year's Arab Festival in Dearborn, Corporal Brian Kapanowski approached Negeen Mayel and ordered her to turn off her video camera. Since Negeen hadn't been accused of committing any crime, she was under no legal obligation to obey his order (and, let's face it, he was only ordering her to stop filming so she wouldn't catch our unlawful arrests on tape). When Negeen didn't immediately turn off her camera, and instead asked why she was being questioned, Corporal Kapanowski grabbed her, seized her camera (which police then kept for more than three weeks), dragged her out of the tent, arrested her, threw her in jail, and charged her with two crimes.
Obviously, in any court that honors the Constitutional rights of citizens, Kapanowski would be in trouble. It turns out, however, that Dearborn courts have as much contempt for the Constitution as Dearborn police. Before the trial even began, Dearborn Judge Mark Somers ruled that Corporal Kapanowski had probable cause to arrest Negeen, even though she hadn't been accused of any criminal activity.
Do not miss the implications of this ruling. According to Judge Somers, in the City of Dearborn, police have probable cause to arrest Christians, even if the Christians haven't been accused of a crime. This means that any Dearborn police officer may arrest any Christian, simply because he feels like it.
Since we realized we weren't going to get justice in Dearborn, we were hopeful that the appeals court would have more respect for our fundamental rights as American citizens. Our hopes were dashed today when Judge Callahan ruled that police may indeed arrest a Christian who hasn't been accused of a crime.
Amazingly, people act like we're crazy when we say that Dearborn is being influenced by Sharia. But the facts speak for themselves. Christians are rapidly becoming second-class citizens in Michigan, and anyone who speaks up is quickly labeled an "Islamophobe." The saddest part of this is that non-Muslims are the ones who are doing the difficult work of destroying the Constitution. Mayor John O'Reilly, City Prosecutors William "Sharia Bill" DeBiasi and Debra Walling, Corporal Kapanowski, Sergeant Mrowka, Chief Haddad, Judge Somers, and now Judge Callahan are all trying desperately to undermine the U.S. Constitution.
And practically no one seems to care.
Many Dearborn residents are offended when people say that Sharia is taking hold in their city. But until the City of Dearborn starts showing some degree of respect for the rights of non-Muslims, until Christians are free to discuss their faith without being arrested, until the Fourth Amendment actually protects teenage girls from illegal search and seizure, the accusations are going to continue.
For a complete summary of the events in Dearborn, with video footage, click here.
(NOTE: I have referred to the "Constitutional rights of Christians." Since certain readers love to misrepresent and distort what I say, let me go ahead and state clearly that I do not believe, never have believed, and never will believe that only Christians should have Constitutional rights. All U.S. citizens, regardless of race or religion, are protected by the Constitution. Indeed, I would be just as opposed to police violating the civil rights of a Muslim or an atheist as I would a Christian. But in this case, it's the rights of Christians that are being violated, so that's the topic of the post.)
Radical Moderate said...This is a travesty of justice. But it is only the first step in a long process. I hope that the lawyers have the fortitude and money to continue the fight and take this to the next level, as well as the strength for Negeen to continue on with the fight.
"There is no rest for the wicked, because righteousness never sleeps."
Now with that said I I have to disagree with you David.
You said...
" let me go ahead and state clearly that I do not believe, never have believed, and never will believe that only Christians should have Constitutional rights. All U.S. citizens, regardless of race or religion, are protected by the Constitution. "
I believe that if Muslims want to be governed by Sharia law they should be, but before they can they must sign a binding waver that they will give up all constitutional protections.
Ask any Muslim living in the USA if they are willing to give up the any of the kuffar, man made constitutional protections afforded to them in the Bill of Rights.
See they live under the delusional that Allah's laws are better then the Constitution, but they want to run to the constitution for protection against Allah's law's.
"There is no rest for the wicked, because righteousness never sleeps."
Now with that said I I have to disagree with you David.
You said...
" let me go ahead and state clearly that I do not believe, never have believed, and never will believe that only Christians should have Constitutional rights. All U.S. citizens, regardless of race or religion, are protected by the Constitution. "
I believe that if Muslims want to be governed by Sharia law they should be, but before they can they must sign a binding waver that they will give up all constitutional protections.
Ask any Muslim living in the USA if they are willing to give up the any of the kuffar, man made constitutional protections afforded to them in the Bill of Rights.
See they live under the delusional that Allah's laws are better then the Constitution, but they want to run to the constitution for protection against Allah's law's.
And as I commented, if the situation were reversed, and it was the Muslims passing out literature at a Christian festival, do you think anything would have been said, even if people complained? No sir, not a chance.
