Editor's Note: CNN’s Soledad O’Brien chronicles the dramatic fight over the construction of a mosque in the heart of the Bible belt. “Unwelcome: The Muslims Next Door," airs March 27 at 8 p.m. ET.
Murfreesboro, Tennessee, has been the epicenter of a months-long battle over the construction of a new mosque in the Nashville suburb. It's one example of many concerning Muslims in America, and how cities and communities are responding to efforts to build Islamic places of worship.
That battle got fiercer when two state lawmakers, one representing Murfreesboro, introduced legislation that would make it a felony to practice Sharia law, which includes lessons found in the Quran, the holy book of Islam, and which can inform how Muslims live their everyday lives, including prayer rituals. Many Muslims consider Sharia law to outline basic tenets of living a moral life. What is Sharia law?
State Sen. Bill Ketron, R-Murfreesboro, and state Rep. Judd Matheny, R-Tullahoma, who are backing the same bill in the Senate and House, describe Sharia law as dangerous to U.S. national security, according to the Tennessean newspaper. The bill grants Tennessee's attorney general the power to investigate complaints about anyone who might be practicing Sharia law.
The possible punishment for practicing Sharia law is 15 years behind bars.
Last year, construction equipment on the site of a planned mosque in Murfreesboro was torched, and police suspect arson. Signs on the mosque property were vandalized with spray paint reading, "Not welcome." Two other proposed Islamic centers in Tennessee stoked much controversy last year. A Crusaders' cross was spray-painted on the side of a Nashville mosque, next to the words, "Muslims go home." In Williamson County, not far from Murfreesboro, plans to build a mosque were quashed after residents complained a turn lane into the building would be too costly. The debate over a mosque near ground zero in New York is still raging. The U.S. Justice Department supports the Murfreesboro mosque.
Tennessee isn't the first state to consider anti-Sharia law legislation. Oklahoma passed a similar bill last year. This month Missouri House Speaker Steve Tilley said he would support a bill that "maintains that U.S. law shall take precedence in U.S. courts," according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Tilley referenced a case, frequently cited in the debate concerning the Oklahoma law, in which a New Jersey judge relied on Islamic law to rule in a case involving domestic violence.
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Why stop there? Let's ban Christianity and their practices as well. Let's just say the 10 commandments are offensive as hell as well (sarcasm). I mean, who follows the "Love thy Neighbor" B.S. anyways today? Old and outdated (sarcasm).
Really? We really need to do this? How about... "Practice Sharia law unless it conflicts with established US Law". That pretty much fixes that, don't you think?
I expect that, if it were to even go through, the higher courts would have a field day. Your fear of a religion or its people has no bearing on their ability to practice it. Even Satanists are protected under the same provisions, and there was a time people were freaking out about them. Now, when your religion dictates that you do something that is against our laws, then you have a problem. No court is going to allow anyone to be stoned or have acid thrown in his/her face, just as polygymy and human sacrifice are not allowed, even if they are/were tenets of a particular religion. This is where Satanists come in and say that they're not about human sacrifice – I'm not saying they are, but it was the norm in thought. Human sacrifice, however, is a tenet of certain religions, ancient or otherwise, but I digress.
No one with our (basic) values agrees with what we consider to be inhumane aspects of a religion or culture. It's pretty immature and narrow-minded to suggest we be subjected to it to appreciate just how bad it is. I don't have to worry Sharia Law. If I were a Muslim in America, I shouldn't have a problem anyway, because last time I checked, our laws already protect people from whatever harm could come from it. If the "When in Rome" adage doesn't work for someone wanting to practice the parts of Sharia Law that conflict with ours, they can go to jail or move to somewhere that does allow it.
The bottom line: Regardless of how you feel about any religious practice, no one has the right to mandate that, because aspects of a religion are considered by some to be a danger, it should be outlawed in its entirety. My own bit of paraphrasing, but I'm not the one who said it. Take that up with our forefathers – they were 'silly' enough to think an individual's pursuit of happiness is somehow sacred [sarcasm for the humor-impaired].
The great thing about being American: You don't have to like your neighbor or anything he does. You even have a right to say that you don't like it. You DO have to respect their rights as provided by law – just as the rest of us have to respect your rights, no matter how dumb or dangerous we think you are.
There is no interest rate in lending money. Thats the threat.
Is it now safer to be a Satanic Worshipper in Tennessee and other right-wing strongholds in America than to worship the Deity called: God; Yahweh; Allah. “Ahmmm” I mean unless it is done through the Christian ritual. Jewish? “Ahaaa”
So more proof that TN is a raciest state.
"Raciest" sounds good. Who would not want to be racy (let alone raciest)? Even racists (indeed, especially racists) could profit from that.
This is unamerican and discriminatory. Where Sharia Law does not diverge significantly from the laws of our land, and where all parties agree- it should be allowed. No one is going to allow a hand to be chopped off for stealing. Other ethinic groups are allowed this same leeway, American Indians, Jews, and others. To banish a culture because at some point in time a group is unpopular is unamerican- it's wrong and simply.. not our way.
Sharia Law covers MANY aspects of Muslim life. Among other things, this is the equivalent of passing a law saying Catholics can go to jail if they don't eat meat on Fridays, or Jews if they refuse to eat seafood or pork. Jewish and won't work on Saturday? Spend up to 15 years in jail.
We better all hope no form of sharia law is ever allowed here. If the Muslims get rights to practice Sharia law, they will hold their own courts and pass out their own punishments. Be prepared to see fingers and hands cut of, and children who steal bread have their arm held down so it can be run over by a jeep. And women will be buried in sand so the men can stone them to death, if suspected of infedelity. (They manage to get around the required witnesses.)They say this stuff comes from god because it is written in the Koran. Muslims will never be able to abide by United States laws, because it is AGAINST their religion. WE are the infedels as far as they are concerned.
Muslims have lived by the laws of he US for several centuries now.
What can you expect. Its Tennessee. The most backward state in the US, right under Arizona.
I still wonder how a judge could think to use sharia law in a US court. People should be able to govern themselves by whatever laws they see fit in the United States, however we should have only one law that governs others and society written down in our books of law.
El, if you see this meet me on this one or the first blog
I'm confused.
What act, exactly, would be illegal?
Building a mosque? Paying the Poor tax? Praying to Kaaba? Fasting?
Someone help me out, here...
What is the difference between this and Wisconsin and that wingnut. If we do not get rid of the wingnuts, we will have a one religion dictatorship. They want less government, well to me less government equals less regulation not more. The only thing I have not heard is the wingnuts trying to regulate the time you go to the bathroom. People in this country better wise up and fast. WE will become a one religion, one party dictatorship. Then we will have to go through a Libya or Egypt. Actually letting the wing nuts gain control will mean the corporations will be in charge and we will look like the poor parts of India. Not a pleasant site.
btw i was going to hire a Sharia lawyer to fight a speeding ticket but now i guess i cant.. guess i'll just have to get stoned
I hope California will embrace it! They deserve it