"From the gut (and the heart)" Editorials by Paul Olivier Faith versus State. The John Walker paradox. The decision of the justice department to prosecute the American Taliban John Walker in civilian court will contain an interesting constitutional conflict relating to religious freedom.  The Western, American concept of separation of Church and State is completely opposite Islamic law concept of the integral Muslim state.  This is why the interim prime minister Karzai of Afghanistan harkens back to Islamic law for his country. Without this continuity he would not been able to keep support from the Afghan population. The integral Muslim state is also guiding the decisions of recent days of the Pakistan's courageous president Musharraf effectively limiting the activities of Islamic Fundamentalist Fanatic organizations, clerics and their schools. John Walker's defense might well be that he is free to believe what he beliefs. And what sense would it make to have a faith and not act accordingly? Email Paul Your Comments Past Editorials   Date