Tennessee Bill Would Outlaw Shariah Law

Muslims would get 15 years in prison
By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff
Posted Feb 23, 2011 2:30 PM CST
Tennessee Bill Would Outlaw Shariah Law
A Tennessee bill would outlaw following Shariah law.   (Shutterstock)

Two Tennessee lawmakers have introduced a bill that would make following the Islamic code of ethics known as Shariah law a felony punishable by 15 years in prison. The bill exempts the peaceful practice of Islam, according to the Tennessean, but it labels following Shariah “treasonous,” claiming that those who do so want to replace US laws with religious ones.

Critics call the bill “nonsense,” noting that Shariah includes such inoffensive dictums as when to wash one’s feet or pray. “What do you mean, really, by saying I can’t abide by Shariah law?”asked the head of the Islamic Center of Nashville. “Shariah law is telling me don’t steal. Do you want me to rob a bank?” Other states have introduced anti-Shariah bills, but they have generally focused on keeping the code out of the court system, not punishing adherents. (More Sharia law stories.)

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