Civil rights group says legislation purporting to ban “sharia law” is based on misinformation, promotes bigotry and will lead to real harm for Arizona Muslims
The Arizona chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Arizona), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, said an anti-Muslim hate bill approved by the Arizona legislature targeting so-called “Sharia law” is rooted in misinformation and bigotry, and will contribute to growing hostility toward Arizona’s Muslim community.
CAIR-Arizona urges Governor Katie Hobbs to veto the legislation, warning that it stigmatizes Muslim Arizonans, undermines religious freedom, and sends a harmful message that state government is willing to single out a minority faith community for political purposes.
That legislation passed despite the absence of any evidence that American courts are being replaced by religious legal systems or that “Sharia” poses any threat to Arizonans or the U.S. Constitution.
SEE: State lawmakers vote to outlaw Sharia Law in Arizona
In a statement, CAIR-Arizona Executive Director Azza Abuseif said:
“This legislation is not about protecting the Constitution or safeguarding Arizona families. It is about fearmongering and exploiting long-debunked myths about Islam and Muslims for political gain. By singling out a false caricature of ‘Sharia law’ and portraying an entire faith tradition as a threat, lawmakers are legitimizing anti-Muslim prejudice and sending a message that Muslim Arizonans are somehow less welcome than their neighbors.
“Measures like this do not exist in a vacuum. They contribute to an environment in which discrimination, harassment, and even violence against Muslims become more likely. Arizona’s elected officials should be working to unite communities and defend constitutional religious freedom, not advancing legislation that stigmatizes a minority faith.”
“We urge Governor Hobbs to reject this divisive and unnecessary legislation and veto the bill. Arizona should stand for religious freedom, equal protection under the law, and the principle that no community should be singled out for political attack because of its faith.”
She noted that the Washington, D.C., based civil rights organization’s latest civil rights report documented 8,683 anti-Muslim bias complaints in 2025 – the highest number ever recorded by the organization since it began publishing civil rights reports in 1996.
Last month, CAIR commended Democratic members of Congress who defended American Muslims and constitutional religious freedom during a House Judiciary subcommittee hearing on “Sharia law.” CAIR also condemned Republican members and witnesses for promoting anti-Muslim fearmongering and dangerous smear tactics amid rising anti-Muslim hate incidents nationwide.
CAIR previously designated the so-called “Sharia-Free America Caucus” organizing the hearing as an anti-Muslim hate group after multiple caucus members publicly called for banning the practice of Islam, expelling Muslims from the United States, or targeting mainstream Muslim organizations and communities.
Community members who experience or witness discrimination, harassment, or bias targeting Muslims or other marginalized groups are encouraged to report incidents to CAIR at: https://www.cair.com/report/
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CONTACT: CAIR-Arizona Executive Director Azza Abuseif, 602-349-1573, aabuseif@cair.com; CAIR National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell, 404-285-9530, e-Mitchell@cair.com; CAIR Government Affairs Director Robert McCaw, 202-742-6448, rmccaw@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Manager Ismail Allison, 202-770-6280, iallison@cair.com