Michele Bachmann: Sharia Law Would 'Usurp' The U.S. Constitution

Minnesota congresswoman and GOP presidential candidate Michele Bachmann is still concerned about the threat of Sharia law, ABC News reports.

"It's very troubling to see some United States justices bring in Sharia law," Bachmann said Wednesday in an interview on WHO Radio's "Mickelson in the Morning" program, according to ABC. "Sharia law ... certainly does not have a place in a United States courtroom, nor should it be followed by United States judges."

"The only thing that United States judges should be bound by is the United States Constitution or state constitutions and the state and national laws of the land," Bachmann continued, going on to claim that allowing its consideration in court "would usurp, and put Sharia law over the Constitution, and that would be wrong."

Earlier this year, Bachmann displayed her opposition to Sharia law by signing the conservative "Marriage Pledge," drafted by Iowa-based group the Family Leader. The pledge included vows to fight Sharia law and pornography, among other things.

Bachmann's comments come in the wake of a recent decision by a Florida appeals court to allow a conservative Republican judge to use the Islamic law in a case that the St. Petersburg Times reports will decide "whether arbitration by an Islamic scholar mediating a dispute between the mosque and ousted trustees followed the teachings of the Koran."

The use of religious law in this type of case is "not all that unusual," Markus Wagner, a professor of international law at the University of Miami School of Law, told the Times.

But that hasn't kept some from meeting the decision with outrage, the Times reports, and the negative reactions appear to be in line with a larger campaign against the supposed creeping of Sharia law into U.S. courts.

States such as Florida, South Carolina, Wyoming and Texas have all considered legislation that would explicitly ban the use of Sharia law in the U.S. court system.

Comments

[truesabil]

01:59 AM on 11/09/2011

What is Sharia?

Sharia is the interpretation of the law from Qur'anic scriptures and the Hadith, the sayings of Prophet Muhammad. Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him. The law is extracted or to be applied to situations and problems.

The law, the Sharia, differs from geographic regions, from time to time, because of the different kinds of situations and problems that develop in different regions at different times. So, I would say "Sharia" is an extraction of principles and laws, etc. to be applied to problems that will arise in the life of the people. It requires a person with a good understanding of the word of God, Qur'an and the Sunnah, the life and Hadith, the teachings and sayings of Prophet Muhammad. I would advise against just taking the Sharia that have been formed by the (schools of thought) without any reservation. I would be strongly against that.

I hope that in time, a school of thought in sharia will develop here, in the west, in America. W Deen Mohammed

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Language-Commentaries-of-WDeenMohammed/message/803

[gposner750]

10:48 PM on 11/08/2011

What about "Murphy's Law?" How about "Burke's Law?" Then, of course, there's "The Law of the Jungle." We are on the verge of being "lawed to death."

[shadowfall71]

10:30 AM on 11/08/2011

"Sharia Hysteria" is, of course, just another example of the Islamophobia being pushed through our legal system by Fundamentalist "Christians" and their Republican toadeaters. I do, however, foresee a potential complication for these "Christians" that may arise from their own hateful policies. If someone with a background in law or public policy should read this, I would appreciate your insight, as I have no such background.

My question is this: Isn't the legal tradition that allows judges to use Sharia when mediating disputes within the Islamic community (and only, as I understand it, if all parties agree to be bound by Sharia) the same tradition that allows conservative Christian churches to excuse themselves from state and federal non-discrimination laws?

[gposner750]

10:49 PM on 11/08/2011

Take you goofy problems and disputes and baggage and issues back to "Sharia Land" and don't let the door hit you in the as s.....

[shadowfall71]

11:19 PM on 11/08/2011

Sharia doesn't apply to me; I'm not muslim.

[Doug Sandlin]

08:24 PM on 11/07/2011

Bachmann, like quite a few people, has succumbed to Shariahyst­eria, it appears.

What's really up with all the "anti-Shar­ia" legislatio­n?

David Yerushalmi is what's up with all the anti-Shari­a legislation.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/31/us/31shariah.html?pagewanted=all

http://www.splcenter.org/blog/2011/06/13/study-of-radicalization-in-mosques-reflects-anti-muslim-bias-of-co-autho/

[Doug Sandlin]

08:18 PM on 11/07/2011

Here are a couple of links with the facts of the case in Florida that Michele Bachman referred to:

http://www.politifact.com/florida/statements/2011/may/04/adam-hasner/adam-hasner-says-florida-judge-using-islamic-law-c/

http://www.fljud13.org/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=Gou70XZCgII%3d&tabid=667&mid=1031

[grayplace]

04:27 PM on 11/07/2011

And the boogieman is hiding in your closet, Michele. Or is that your husband?

[caprawalie]

03:01 PM on 11/07/2011

Is this woman talking about Libya and Tunisia or the US...she must be out of touch and somebody should tell her she is running for President of the US and not for either Libya or Tunisia!

[Bike Commuter]

10:03 AM on 11/07/2011

That Bachmann is misguided is being kind. The fact is that Bachmann of all people should know better. Courts have long been tasked with being the final word on "Christian law". ........ The Bible contains a long series of commandments, more than 600 of them, laid out in the first 5 books of the bible. In addition, there are several additional guidelines in the New Testament which a significant portion of Christians take as commandments. There are a number of Christians in the US who attempt to follow various strict versions of those commandments (with a few "obsolete" ones left out like the ones dietary restrictions). These strict Christians often use this "law" as a basis for many of their everyday activities. Many people may not realize it, but there are also mediation and binding arbitration courts in the US that attempt to adjudicate based on that "Christian law". Like minded Christians can go to these courts to settle marital disputes, divorces, estates, contracts, and other civil matters. .............. One prime example was the university Bachmann herself attended as a law student. As a Christian university, ORU has many rules that are Christian based. When Bachmann attended that university was even more restrictive. Disputes over the rules at such universities are often judged by "courts" set up by the university to deal with such things. Those disputes could conceivably spill over into US courts if the university court were to not go by their own rules. ........ Other examples abound as well, and with the circles that Bachmann runs in, she should know about them.

[BradHart]

05:30 PM on 11/07/2011

These laws you call obsolete aren't ignored because they are obsolete, they are ignored because these so called Christians think they can pick and choose the ones they want to follow and uphold their personal prejudices and still be called Christians. It is ridiculous when it comes right down to it. The practice of religion has to be all or nothing, or it is just a mask that lets you pat yourself on the back by condemning the people who offend you.

[Bike Commuter]

08:57 PM on 11/07/2011

I appreciate what you are saying, but it is a bit more complex than that. No system of laws, not even religious ones, exist in a vacuum . The same goes for moral principles, whether they be secular or religious. ............ Aside from that, it is really beside the point. People in the US have the right to live their lives as they see fit, and that includes choosing what religious (or non-religious) tenets they will follow. The limitation is that it not fall outside of what is allowed under the law (and even then some small accommodations may be made). That is what this is about, the equal protection of that right.

[aries932]

04:01 AM on 11/06/2011

she always dresses like she's going out on the town...lose those ear rings

[revblueroof]

12:54 PM on 11/05/2011

Okay Michele, ban Sharia Law from disputs among muslims. At the same time ban the use of vatican directives in disputes among Roman Catholics, And any denominational rules indisputes within any protestant group. Religious laws, like those defending marriage, or condemning homosexuality also should be removed by your reasoning. After all, how do you deny one faith rhe use of its rules internally, and not deny the use of like rules by others?
Actually, MB, if you bothered to read Sharia Law, you would find it more closely your stands than true Chrstian teaching support your statements.

[mainhoon]

11:11 AM on 11/05/2011

Why does anyone pay any attention to her?

[dweik50]

11:01 AM on 11/05/2011

So you want to outlaw Shaira law but when you want to make law on christian beliefs that is ok

[FrancisKing]

05:30 AM on 11/06/2011

Yes, that's what I was thinking. I guess she doesn't get the irony of that.

[ArjenBoatsma]

10:55 AM on 11/05/2011

Will Bachman fight the x-tian version of sharia law (more commonly referred to as the 10 commandments) with the same passion?

[Bike Commuter]

10:06 AM on 11/07/2011

The Christian version of sharia law is far more than the 10 commandments. It is a long series of commandments, more than 600 of them, laid out in the first 5 books of the bible. In addition, there are several additional guidelines in the New Testament which a significant portion of Christians take as commandments. The fact is that Bachmann is fighting against something that already exists for Christians. This Christian law is followed by a significant number of people in the US. They go to mediation and binding arbitration to settle Christian disputes, and when there is disagreement about the mediation or arbitration, the regular courts step in, and end up having to consider the Christian law in the process.

[Agent672]

09:57 AM on 11/05/2011

i've never seen anyone speak so passionately about topics that are total fabrication.

[Sci-Fy-Fact]

08:24 AM on 11/05/2011

So how many more of these former front runners do you think Rupert can afford to hire onto his payroll? Get out now, while he still has some openings, because Newt is looking, Rick Santourum too.