http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2011-02-23-tennessee-law-shariah_N.htm
Monday, March 7, 2011
A new, proposed law in Tennessee could now get any followers of the Islamic Law known as Shariah up to 15 years in prison. Parts of this law include simple and almost universal rules and morals, such as the abstaining of theft or stealing. This law, which is being considered by about a dozen other states, also has practices of prayer, diets, and feet washing. This new law relates to the class in which we discussed discrimination, and spoke about the Japanese being taken into camps in the United States (such as Manzanar) during the World War II. Although we are not setting up camps for Shariah followers, the circumstances are similar. Back then, we were at war with the Japanese, and the government would not let them live among the other citizens of the U.S., and today, in the midst of the war for terror taking place in the Islamic world of the Middle East, a Tennessee bill may be passed that would punish followers of the Shariah Law. This idea, fear, or even paranoia still live on; I guess we aren't really saying farewell to Manzanar. This bill definitely needs reconsideration, not only because the Shariah Law conflicts with the U.S. Constitution, but also because we need to re-evaluate the fact that the U.S. is a melting pot of several cultures. Plus, if one were to argue that national security and protection are the roots of this bill, wouldn't this Tennessee bill infuriate these people and further destroy a positive image they have of the U.S? Just a thought.
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This Tennessee law is clearly in violation of the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment which says that all men are created equal, and that everyone's basic rights are protected, no matter their race, ethnicity, religion or gender. It is also against the 1st Amendment of freedom of religion because the law is clearly discriminating against followers of Shariah Law, and allowing this law to pass could open up a can of worms that might give more state and the federal governments the idea that they can discriminate against other groups of people for "national security" purposes. The fact is that not all followers of Shariah Law are terrorists or threats to the U.S., so this justification is not acceptable for passing a law that persecutes them. I would be very surprised if this law because of its clear violations of the rights of Shariah Law followers.
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