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Canberra Today 15°/21° | Thursday, March 28, 2024 | Digital Edition | Crossword & Sudoku

Letters / Fun and freedom is our way

I AM offended by ex-Iranian Ilnaz Roomiani’s long-winded letter, “Depicting Muslims in an unflattering light” (CN, November 24), with its implication Australian cartoonists should be sharia compliant.

quillSharia does not permit criticism or questioning of Islam; only praise is permitted.

Humour is out of the question. As the Ayatollah Khomeini famously stated: “Allah did not create man so that he could have fun. The aim of creation was for mankind to be put to the test through hardship and prayer. An Islamic regime must be serious in every field. There are no jokes in Islam. There is no humour in Islam. There is no fun in Islam. There can be no fun and joy in whatever is serious.”

The situation in Iran has not improved post-Khomeini. A recent news report concerning the flogging of Muslim converts to Christianity in Iran, for the crime of drinking communion wine, provides further argument to reject sharia compliance in Australia.

Immigrants must understand that humour, fun and freedom of expression, while under challenge, are currently permitted in Australia.

J W Farrands, via email
Fines ‘opportunistic’
REVENUE raising is alive and well in Civic. Are we really stretched for parking spots at 8am Saturday mornings or is this just opportunistic? How frustrating to see one young man and his friends arrive at a Civic car park at around 8.30am on Saturday morning to collect the car they’d left behind the night before, only to find they were one of dozens who incurred a $108 early morning parking fine.

Hang on, didn’t they do the right thing by not driving home last night after a few drinks? What are those kids likely to do next time? Be responsible, catch a cab and risk another early morning fine, or run the gauntlet? I know where I’d put my $108 wager.

Leisel Bell, Stirling
‘Stupid’ drug policy
YET again, a death has marked the stupidity of our drug policy, this time a five-year-old (Daily Telegraph, November 18, “Foster care drug shame”).

More children and adults will die deluded by the drug message: we know you may choose to use drugs, and if you do, try to do it safely.

Our governments are culpable. For 40 years they have told us emphatically there was no safe cigarette or safe way to smoke it. What are they waiting for? Until illicit drug deaths equal the 15,000 smoking deaths annually?

Colliss Parrett, Barton

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