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By Charles M. Phipps on February 19th, 2015 
People said it would never happen. There is no need to make an effort to ban Sharia law because it will never be in the United States. That’s what they said. Legislative efforts to ban Sharia law were always protested by groups such as the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) and other groups sympathetic to Muslims. Oklahoma is one of at least sixteen states that have introduced legislation to ban Sharia law. Two years ago, Oklahoma passed House Bill 1060 which prohibits the application of foreign laws when doing so would violate the Oklahoma or U.S. Constitution. The bill did not mention Sharia law or any foreign law specifically, yet CAIR decried its passage, saying that the bill attacks the religious principles of Islam. Opponents of this bill and similar bills in other states said Sharia law would never come here and that there is no reason to pass such legislation.
Those people were wrong.
CBN – A group […] → Keep reading
By Charles M. Phipps on September 26th, 2013 
Last month the state of North Carolina became the seventh state to pass legislation that prohibits state judges from considering Islamic law when deciding cases. The other states are Oklahoma, Arizona, Kansas, Louisiana, South Dakota and Tennessee. North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory allowed the law to take effect without signing it, saying he considered the measure a waste of time. Naturally, there are those who disagree with passing such a measure. Deseret News reported the story.
Supporters hailed the bill as an important safeguard that protects the American legal system from foreign laws that are incompatible with the U.S. Constitution, Religion News Service reported, while critics argued the Constitution already overrides foreign laws.
“(The legislation is) primarily designed to stir up anti-Islamic prejudice by creating fears that Islamic Sharia law is somehow going to take over the American legal system,” Carl Ernst, a religious studies professor at the University of North Carolina, told the Daily Tarheel.
“No one has a […] → Keep reading
By Charles M. Phipps on April 14th, 2013 
Oklahoma House Bill 1060 is on the way to Governor Fallin’s desk to await her signature. This measure would prohibit the application of foreign laws when doing so would violate the state or U.S. constitutions. Business entities were given an exemption and may subject themselves to foreign law if they so choose.
This bill by State Rep. Sally Kern is a replacement for State Question 755, which was struck down by a federal court for singling out Sharia Law. SQ755 was passed by voters in November 2010 with 70 percent voting for passage. Kern said, “Our intent with this bill is to use language similar to that of legislation in Tennessee, Kansas, Arizona and Louisiana, all of which passed without any court challenges. Voters approved the state question by a margin of 70 percent. If Gov. Mary Fallin signs this bill into law, she will be following the overwhelming will of the people of Oklahoma.”
HB 1060 doesn’t specifically mention […] → Keep reading
By Charles M. Phipps on September 20th, 2011 
Last week the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver began hearing arguments on the Oklahoma voter-approved law that prohibits state courts and judges from considering international law or Sharia law when deciding cases.
Voters overwhelmingly approved State Question 755 in November 2010 with 70 percent voting for passage.
The law states that “Oklahoma courts shall not look to the legal precepts of other nations or cultures. Specifically, the courts shall not consider international law or Sharia Law. The provisions of this subsection shall apply to all cases before the respective courts including, but not limited to, cases of first impression.”
Muneer Awad, the executive director of the Hamas-linked Council on American-Islamic Relations, had filed the lawsuit challenging the constitutional amendment. Awad says in his lawsuit that the measure transforms Oklahoma’s constitution into a condemnation of Islam by singling it out.
Naturally, the American Civil Liberties Union is backing the lawsuit. Daniel Mach, the director of the ACLU’s […] → Keep reading
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