Federal Court Blocks Oklahoma's Anti-Sharia Con Amendment

Judge Vicki Miles-LaGrange of the Western District of Oklahoma today issued a temporary restraining order preventing the State of Oklahoma from implementing its new constitutional amendment that would ban the use of Sharia law in Oklahoma courts.  The court released a Minute Sheet without significant analysis; Judge Miles-LaGrange indicated that she'd release an Order soon.

We posted on the case, brought by Muneer Awad, ED for the advocacy group the Council on American-Islamic Relations, here.

The constitutional amendment, passed by a 70%-30% vote in last Tuesday's election, would prohibit Oklahoma courts from "look[ing] to the legal precepts of other nations or cultures.  Specifically, the courts shall not consider international law or Sharia Law."

The Minute Sheet also concludes that Awad has standing.  He claims that the amendment would stigmatize him as a Muslim and prevent him from enforcing his will, which references Sharia law, in Oklahoma state courts.

SDS