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Brunei To Punish Irresponsible Parents
by Kazi Mahmood
JAKARTA, May 17 (IslamOnline) - New Islamic laws designed to punish irresponsible parents will be implemented soon in Brunei, its Chief Kadhi (judge) said this week.
He said parents who ignore their responsibilities, especially towards their children, will be persecuted, and if found guilty, may face a hefty fine or imprisonment.
The Shari'ah court in Brunei will soon enforce this law in the wake of increased social problems in the Kingdom, sources said.
A teacher in Brunei's secondary school, based in Bandar Seri Begawan, said there were several reasons the government is pushing for the new laws.
She said the island is facing more divorce cases and young Malay-Muslims are becoming too independent due to parents carelessness. She added that this trend should be "crushed in the bud" before it becomes untenable.
Shima Abdullah added that she supported the views of the Kadhi in the implementation of the new rulings.
The chief Kadhi, Pehin Dato Ustaz Haji Awang Salim, said: "The new Islamic laws ensure the welfare, prosperity and peace of family living and deter any abuse and cruelty in the families. It should remind the parents not to ignore their responsibilities towards their family and children [under Islam]."
He said that in most cases, a broken family has to endure the most sufferings in life when any parent ignores his or her responsibilities.
"If parents know their family responsibilities underlined by Islam, it is most certain that the children will not be torn apart and deprived of care and affection, which can make them get involved with undesirable social elements, thus worsening family ties."
He reiterated that under Islam, the parents played the main role in shaping the family.
"Islam not only encourages the Muslim population to be great in numbers, but the most important thing is that we are able to produce quality Muslims who are strong believers in their faiths, as well as in wisdom and manners."
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