The News From Sweden

I found an amusing juxtaposition in The Local, an English-language Swedish rag. Part 1--this report about Sweden's "newly formed" Fatwa Council:

...The Swedish Fatwa Council aims to have a geographical spread of qualified imams throughout the country to increase their reach.
Within the Council they plan to establish the Fatwa Committee, which will consist only of imams who have earned at least a bachelor’s degree in Sharia, or the study of a system of laws derived from the Koran and the Prophet Muhammed’s actions.

Sharia, however, can differ from country to country, and the interpretations of it can range from conservative to liberal.

“It’s been a balancing act to find the right representatives, to avoid extremes,” Azam says.

Today the Committee has nine such educated imams, who reference both the Koran and the Prophet Muhammad’s actions when answering questions about what is and what is not permissible under Sharia Law.

Since fatwas can differ depending upon the school and branch of Islam, the Committee will remain an odd number to ensure a majority vote when providing answers.

Questions are submitted to the Council by letters and e-mails through their website.

The imams plan to lean on authorities abroad when needed, rather than compete with the major fatwa centres of the Middle East and elsewhere in the world, such as the European Fatwa Council.

The Council can then reshape those fatwas in a manner that is applicable to life in Sweden...

Wonder if this is one of the "questions" they'll weigh in on (Part 2 of the juxtaposition): Swedish court: naked Muhammad pics legal.
 
Whereas this story, also in The Local, is not in the least bit amusing.