January 10, 2012
Discriminatory and Unnecessary Law Maligned American Muslims and Presented Legal Bind For Courts
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: (212) 549-2666; media@aclu.org
DENVER, CO – A federal appeals court today unanimously upheld a ruling that blocked implementation of a discriminatory and unnecessary Oklahoma state constitutional amendment that would have prohibited state courts from considering what is broadly described as Islamic “Sharia law” and “international law.”
The court concluded that by singling out Islam for unfavorable treatment in state courts, the law likely violates the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment. The court rejected the state’s argument that the constitutional amendment was necessary to protect against improper application of Sharia law, explaining:
