It’s been a busy few weeks for Sharia-fearing Americans. Tennessee recently introduced a bill that would ban the practice of Sharia - and perhaps by extension, the practice of Islam itself. Elsewhere, anti-Sharia groups battled for supremacy outside the White House, and Missouri filed legislation to outlaw the use of Sharia law in its courts. Now, it appears Alabama is getting into the game.
State Sen. Gerald Allen (R ) has introduced a constitutional amendment, SB 62, that would forbid the use of Islamic law in the state’s courts.
The amendment would ensure that “…when a court exercises its judicial authority it will not consider Sharia when making its judicial decisions…The courts shall not look to the legal precepts of other nations or cultures. Specifically, the courts shall not consider international law or Sharia.”
Allen didn’t immediately respond to TPM’s request for comment. But in an interview with the Anniston Star, Allen said while he couldn’t think of any examples where Sharia law had been invoked in Alabama courts, he’d heard concerns from a number of constituents. He also said he drafted the bill in response to a specific request by a lone individual, who he declined to name.
As the Anniston Star points out, the definition of Sharia listed in the bill is almost identical to wording in the Wikipedia entry on Sharia law.
For an in-depth look at the origins of Sharia anxiety in the U.S., check out TPM’s investigation on the subject.
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