The ever flexible concept of "heresy" to control Muslims.

And much like Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah in southern Lebanon, Moqtada al-Sadr has tried to establish a state within a state inside Iraq, albeit far more haphazardly. Mr. Sadr, for example, has set up an extrajudicial Sharia court system to put on trial those Iraqi Shiite "heretics" that do not strictly conform to his interpretation of Sharia law. Some "defendants" found guilty have been punished by death.^[1]

We are ever amazed at the highly decentralized interpretation of Islamic law. Anyone who has completed imam school appears to be able to pronounce on any matter of law or morals for Muslims and who is to say anything to the contrary.

Our understanding of Islamic jurisprudence is a work in progress, it's true, but this extraordinary power of individual clerics to pronounce some political opponent or independent Muslim thinker as a heretic, idolater, polytheist, or apostate and have them executed seems to exist independent of any other judicial body. Thus, there is no check on the interpretations of any one imam.

Local imams enjoy carte blanche from all other Muslim authority and any Western objections to the actions taken in the name of the sharia are reduced to mere case-by-case objections. No higher body of jurists can be held to account for egregious actions of one imam.^[2]

Nor does any process exists in the sharia by which there is a systematic refinement and elucidation of basic concepts. The sharia appears to be purely discretionary, personal, and ad hoc in its interpretation and application.

Moreover, who can doubt that imams everywhere will not object too strenuously when another gets away with exercising the imamical power to intimidate and control Muslims inclined to stray from the reservation. All for one and one for all.

"Heresy" is a highly useful tool in ensuring the continued dominance of the priestly class in Islamic society. One man's scientific or scholarly inquiry is converted with the wave of a hand into a perverted criticism of Mohammed, the Koran, and Muslims everywhere.

Next time a Muslim tells you there's no compulsion in religion, keep this in mind. Best to file it under "Fairy tale for infidels," is our thought.

Life under such a system of "law" must be a living hell. Unless, that is, you don't mind living under the thumb of men with no modern education whatsoever and who minored at their madrasses in guerilla tactics and mine warfare. The Lord helps those who can field strip an AK-47 after all.

"Now bow down and pray, sucker. But mostly, like, you know, bow down."

Notes
^[1] "Iraq's Hezbollah." By Dan Senor. Wall Street Journal Online, 7/27/06 (subscription).
^[2] "Whaaaat council of jurists?! Don't look at us, pal. Go talk to Freddy about sentencing that guy to death. It's his deal, Dude. It's a left at the bridge and then two minutes to the gas station. Throw a stone at the upstairs shutter."