The Alabama chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Alabama) today condemned Sen. Tommy Tuberville’s bill purporting to ban “Sharia law” as an “unconstitutional attack on religious freedom.”
Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) announced the introduction of two bills aimed at banning the application of Sharia Law in the United States. The proposed legislation includes the “No Sharia Act,” which seeks to prevent courts from enforcing foreign laws that contravene U.S. constitutional rights, and the “Preserving a Sharia Free America Act,” which would restrict immigration for “advocates of Sharia Law.”
In a statement, CAIR-Alabama Staff Attorney Britton O’Shields said:
“Senator Tuberville’s bill is an unconstitutional attack on the religious freedom of Alabamians and all Americans. Time and again, Mr. Tuberville relies on fake news to justify real attacks on the rights of his constituents—and this time is no different. Sharia law, like Jewish Halacha, provides Muslims with guidance for their daily life and religious practice, requiring them to offer their five daily prayers, fast in Ramadan, give in charity, stand up for justice, obey the laws of the land in which they live, and advocate for the religious rights of their neighbors. Senator Tuberville’s doomed effort to ‘ban’ American Muslims from adhering to the articles of their faith is a publicity stunt that demonstrates his contempt for religious freedom and should sound the alarm for all Americans who oppose government interference in their religious practice. American Muslims will continue to freely and proudly practice their faith, God willing, regardless of Senator Tuberville’s political stunts.”
Earlier this week, CAIR and CAIR-Florida condemned Governor Ron DeSantis for endorsing Florida House Bill 119, the so-called “No Sharia Act,” and urged Florida lawmakers to reject this Israel-First political stunt designed to distract the public from Israel’s ongoing genocide of Palestinians in Gaza by manufacturing panic about Muslims in America.
Earlier this month, CAIR-Alabama reiterated the Alabama Muslim community’s invitation to Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) to visit a mosque and engage with his Muslim constituents after he delivered a speech on the floor of the Senate denigrating Islam and smearing American Muslims while displaying a “BAN SHARIA LAW” poster.
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CONTACT: A. Britton O’Shields, Staff Attorney – Alabama Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Alabama), aoshields@cair.com, 205-206-6399, 205-616-0733; CAIR National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell, 404-285-9530, e-Mitchell@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