Sharia banks
I don't like Sharia law. I don't like making a mockery of Allah. But what law should stop sharia banks, piggy banks, or any other kind of bank? If they want to take deposits from the public and pretend to not be banking, there are regulations that they must comply with in any event. They can call the deal whatever they want, except on government regulated disclosures. The Muslims don't care if we all snicker and say that they are banking, why should they care if regulations require the deal be written in English or French and not Farsi? And why should they care if I call it a loan at interest and they call it an offer of obedience to Mohammed's Deo-economic theory?
Canadian Muslims should not take their own hypocritical posturing so seriously. Just open the sharia bank and let free enterprise rock on with all the tellers in burkas and offer whatever brand of B.S. makes a buck. If the effective, ahem, rates, are competetive, can I get a loan or what? What's the cardholder agreement look like for a sharia charge card? Do you think I care? I didn't read the last one that I signed. So as long as it meets the regs, give it to me in Farsi for all I care.
I want my tellers in burkas. I like to watch their eyes. Just because I'm not a Muslim man doesn't mean I'm not a male chauvenist pig. Will a sharia ATM charge fees directly, or will it launder the fees as well? Cool.