The Florida Senate on 4 May dropped a controversial anti-Islam bill that Muslim, Jewish and civil rights leaders had criticised as “unconstitutional and unnecessary.” The bill was based on a template promoted by an anti-Muslim extremist. The bill, SB 58, was crafted by a racist lawyer and pushed by anti-Muslim hate groups, would have banned Muslim marriages, divorce and child custody agreements if they’re based on Islamic values. “We applaud the Florida Senate for dropping this unconstitutional and unnecessary legislation, the sole purpose of which is to marginalise Muslims and demonise Islam,” said CAIR National Executive Director NihadAwad. “We thank all those elected officials who voted for the Constitution by voting against this un-American bill.”
CAIR also thanked the coalition of groups in Florida that lobbied elected officials to reject the unconstitutional legislation. “Without the tireless efforts of many individuals and organizations, this discriminatory bill would have become law in Florida,” said CAIR-Tampa Executive Director Hassan Shibly. Dozens of similar discriminatory and unconstitutional bills have been introduced in state legislatures nationwide.