Sharia Law Campaign Begins As Muslim Group Fights Bans – MT
by Falak Rahman
After heated debates in two dozen statesover banning Sharia law, the legal code of Islam, a national Islamic group is beginning a multi-million dollar effort to explain how Sharia applies to the lives of American Muslims.
The Islamic Circle of North America, a New York-based group, is spending $3 million on its Defending Religious Freedom campaign, which kicks off Monday and explains Sharia law and common misunderstandings.
The effort includes billboards, TV and radio ads in 25 major cities, including New York, Los Angeles and Chicago, in addition to town hall meetings and seminars on university campuses led by Muslim academics and activists. Each directs audiences to a website and manned hotline, 1-855-Shariah.
The campaign is a response to efforts to ban Sharia law over the last two years in state legislatures and on ballot initiatives, said Naeem Baig, vice president of public affairs for Islamic Circle of North America. Republican presidential candidates also have raised the Sharia debate.
Tennessee, Louisiana and Arizona have passed laws banning judges from consulting Sharia, or more generally, foreign or religious laws. Oklahoma voters approved a ban on Sharia law in 2010, but a judge blocked the rule after a Muslim man filed a religious freedom lawsuit. Legislatures in South Carolina and Florida are considering anti-Sharia bills.
Article Courtesy: The Muslim Times
Religious freedom also means that all persons have the right to be free from the constraints, dictates, laws, norms, rules, and any other principles of religious, including any specific religion. Tolerance towards any religion, or religious freedom also includes an aspect where every individual has the right to “step outside” and “reject” the demands of any religion, including a religion to which they otherwise belong, provided they remain in compliance with the laws of the state.
“protect It”
Hello Saymeh
This Campaign is an effort to eliminate type of “Confusions” you and many others have about Shariah. An understanding and opening up of minds will help clear the perception that there is any “forcing of Shariah” thing is going on in America. Religious freedom is our right given by U.S Constitution and we must project it.
Hello. I am a Muslim political activist. I have friends within the Tea Party and many of them are protesting shariah. I ask that you reject shariah because forcing our way of life is not helping my situation. But I am rather confused..What type of shariah are you implementing? Is this basic things like polygamy or more of the controversial things like the hijab? Please email your answer. Thank You.