Germania Rodriguez Poleo and James Gordon write for the Daily Mail about a significant development in Texas.
Texas governor Greg Abbott has announced a ban on Sharia Law in the state after an imam launched a campaign to pressure Muslim-owned stores to stop selling pork, alcohol and lottery tickets.
Imam F. Qasim ibn Ali Khan of Masjid At-Tawhid was seen in a viral video confronting a store employee and accusing the business of selling ‘haram’ products forbidden under Islamic law.
As a response, Abbott said on Tuesday: ‘I signed laws that BAN Sharia Law and Sharia Compounds in Texas. No business and no individual should fear fools like this.’
The governor also addressed the imam, saying: ‘If this person, or ANYONE, attempts to impose Sharia compliance, report it to local law enforcement or the Texas Dept. of Public Safety.’
In a statement, Abbott’s office added: ‘In Texas, we believe in equal rights under the law for all men, women, & children. Any legal system that flouts human rights is BANNED in the state of Texas.’
Abbott did not specify which bill he was referencing, but he signed a bill in 2017 that prohibits judges from applying any foreign law, including Muslim law, in US courtrooms.
Imam Khan, who leads a Nation of Islam-affiliated mosque in the Houston area, warned Muslim business owners they would face boycotts and public protests if they refused to comply.
In the viral video that sparked widespread outrage, he said a nationwide protest movement was set to begin specifically targeting Muslim businesses that violate Islamic teachings.
‘We’re kicking off a national protest and demonstration campaign against all Muslim businesses that have haram in their stores,’ Khan said in the video.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations slammed governor Abbott’s move, calling it ‘fearmongering’ and saying Sharia means ‘the way to water’ and compared it to Halacha for Jewish people or Canon law for Catholics.
