Sen. John Cornyn has teamed up with Sen. Tommy Tuberville to introduce a bill 鈥渢o stop the spread of Sharia Law in the U.S.鈥�
The Defeat Sharia Law in America Act would make discrimination based on Sharia Law for goods, services, facilities, privileges, advantages or accommodations a violation of the Civil Rights Act according to a press release from Cornyn鈥檚 office.
鈥淪haria Law is the antithesis of the rights, beliefs, and values that make Texas and America great, and we must root out and eradicate this existential threat to our way of life,鈥� Cornyn said in the press release. 鈥淚鈥檓 introducing the Defeat Sharia Law in America Act to ensure anti-American jihadists and those who dare to try and implement Sharia Law鈥檚 hateful ideology in our freedom-loving, God-fearing communities are stopped and held accountable for their radical discrimination and flagrant violation of our Constitution.鈥�
Tuberville and Cornyn also cosponsored a similar law, the No Sharia Act, which aims to prevent U.S. courts from enforcing Sharia Law. The Council on American-Islamic Relations鈥� Alabama chapter condemned the bill in a , calling it an 鈥渦nconstitutional attack on religious freedom.鈥�
鈥淪haria law, like Jewish Halacha, provides Muslims with guidance for their daily life and religious practice, requiring them to offer their five daily prayers, fast in Ramadan, give in charity, stand up for justice, obey the laws of the land in which they live, and advocate for the religious rights of their neighbors,鈥� the press release said. 鈥淪enator Tuberville鈥檚 doomed effort to 鈥榖an鈥� American Muslims from adhering to the articles of their faith is a publicity stunt that demonstrates his contempt for religious freedom and should sound the alarm for all Americans who oppose government interference in their religious practice.鈥�
Cornyn sent a letter last year urging the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate a proposed Muslim oriented housing development in North Texas. He accused EPIC City, now known as The Meadow, of religious discrimination.
The U.S. Department of Justice closed its civil rights investigation after the developer, Community Capital Partners, affirmed that it鈥檚 committed to building an inclusive community that complies with Fair Housing Act requirements.
Cornyn is running for reelection and faces two challengers in the GOP primary, U.S. Representative Wesley Hunt and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. A recent poll from the University of Houston鈥檚 found 38% of likely GOP primary voters back Paxton, compared to 31% who support Cornyn and 17% for Hunt.
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