Oregon senator introduces legislation to ban Sharia law

Rasa - A Salem-area Republican has introduced legislation that would ban Oregon courts from considering Sharia law, the set of religious customs followed by some Muslims, when issuing rulings.

News ID: 426524

Date: 14 January 2017 - 17:40

RNA - A Salem-area Republican has introduced legislation that would ban Oregon courts from considering Sharia law, the set of religious customs followed by some Muslims, when issuing rulings.

Senate Bill 479, by Sen. Brian Boquist, R-Dallas, amounts to a single sentence: "A court of this state may not consider Sharia law in making judicial decisions."

Boquist didn't immediately respond to a message seeking comment Tuesday. Ibrahim Hooper, a spokesman for the Council on American-Islamic Relations, reacted with disdain.

"Has the anti-unicorn legislation been introduced yet? Because it's of equal validity," Hooper said. "Anyone with half a brain knows that it's completely unconstitutional."

Hooper also characterized Boquist's proposal as anti-Muslim.

"In many cases (legislators) don't really care whether it passes or not," Hooper said. "They want to marginalize American Muslims and Islam. Just to introduce this kind of legislation can have that effect, because it gives Islamophobes a platform."

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