A prominent national Muslim civil rights and advocacy organisation on May 25 said a Kansas bill signed into law by Governor Sam Brownback, which critics say is designed to target Shari’ah, “invites” a legal challenge. The Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) said the Kansas anti-Muslim bill is one of dozens of similar pieces of discriminatory and unconstitutional legislation that have been introduced nationwide. These legislative initiatives are promoted by those who seek to marginalise American Muslims and demonise Islam.
“This clearly unconstitutional legislation, like all the others targeting Muslims’ religious rights nationwide, invites a legal challenge,” said CAIR Legal Counsel Nadhira Al-Khalili. “The unmistakable and un-American bigotry espoused by the sponsors of these bills should be repudiated by Americans of all faiths.” Earlier this month, CAIR issued an action alert asking Kansans to urge Gov. Brownback to veto the discriminatory bill.
Civil libertarians say the legislation could infringe on constitutionally-protected religious rights, impacting the writing of marriage contracts, the implementation of wills or even being buried according to one’s religious beliefs. It could also adversely affect the validation of international adoptions and foreign marriages. Supporters of the Kansas bill have attempted to mask its true intent by endorsing the measure as a women’s rights issue, but their repeated use of Islamophobic rhetoric demonstrates their true intent.