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Anti-Sharia flyers circulate Senate hallways

Anti-Sharia flyers and booklets are circulating the Senate hallways as lawmakers prepare for a possible vote on a measure that would ban foreign law in Florida courts.   

The materials present Islam as a threat to the United States, and invoke lawmakers to pass legislation to "save us from an internal attack" and "protect our freedom."

One booklet, distributed by Sen. Alan Hays, R-Umatilla, sponsor of SB 1360, is called “Shari'ah Law: Radical Islam's threat to the U.S. Constitution.” He said his intent is to educate people on Islam and Sharia Law, a Koran-based code followed in some Islamic countries.

Hays's bill would ban courts or other legal authorities from using religious or foreign law as a part of a legal decision or contract. For example, Florida law would trump foreign law in marriage, divorce and custody cases. The companion bill passed Thursday in the House by a 92-24 vote.

Among other things, the booklet contains a chart of Sharia laws and punishments and compares them to the laws in the United States. For example, the chart says that under Sharia Law a person can be executed for defaming Islam, while in the United States such conduct is protected by the First Amendment.

Islamic and Jewish groups as well as the American Civil Liberties Union and the Family Law section of the Florida Bar criticize the bill as targeting Islam, but Hays and House sponsor Rep. Larry Metz, R-Eustis, insist that’s not true. Neither could point to a Florida case in which a ruling based on foreign code was upheld by courts.

“This is being proactive. I’m going to do everything I can to make our Florida courts as pure as I can and make sure we have a very clear policy in Florida,” Hays said. “There also won’t be any Israeli law, or Netherlands law, or Italian Law.”

Hays said the booklet he distributed, sponsored by the American Center for Law & Justice, was well-received by fellow senators. E-mails have flooded his inbox on this issue, but he’s unconcerned with those who are offended, he said.

“It’s not a matter of being offended or not being offended, it’s a matter of a law being a law,” he said with a laugh. “We dare not legislate up here with a fear of offending someone....lots of things I do offend people. That’s a part of life.”

As the session winds down, the chances of the Senate taking up the bill grow slimmer. But if the issue reaches a floor debate, Minority Leader Nan Rich, D-Sunrise, said she plans to discuss the “inappropriate” posters delivered to her office by activist groups.

One poster, by a group called Students for the Constitution, uses bold block print to warn of sedition, and accuses Islamic people of being determined to “overthrow our state and country.” Download Students for the Constitution Flyer[1],

Another poster by, a group called SOAR: PI, which stands for Students on Assignment Revealing Propaganda and Infiltration, is stamped with pictures of Islamic protesters holding signs that say things like “Hate America” and “Islam will dominate the world.” Download SOAR PI Flyer[1]

“People need to realize the fear mongering,” Rich said. “We are not in danger of being ruled by Sharia Law in the United States, and it’s a fear tactic.”



native Floridian

What about orthodox Jews who get a divorce called a "get" that is recognized in Florida divorce courts?


Is it fear-mongering if there really is a rise of sharia law world-wide? And, that most of the Muslim activists fighting against these bills seem to be linked to the the outgrowths of the U.S. Muslim Brotherrhood infrastructure.

Suggest you read an article by the Saudi-based OIC on the new pro-sharia campaign here by the Islamic Circle of North America. Note this article defines sharia law as Muslim form of jurisprudence




With all due respect, it is fear mongering. Please accept my advice to you; Do not fear Muslims or any other human beings. Fear only Almighty God (whom we call by the name Allah). Nothing can happen to you, either good or bad, without His permission. Live your own life to the best of your ability and be hopefully expectant of His mercy on the Day of Judgement. God will take care of the rest.


I can see not wanting anyone to focus on Islam, the religion, which would be inappropriate,as we support freedom of religion. I'm not sure that focusing on Sharia Law should be a problem. Either Sharia Law is already consistent with the Constitution, in which case no proponent of Sharia would care about having US courts take notice of it, or it is not, in which case no US court should take any notice of it whatsoever. Perhaps the proponents of these laws should be more careful to point out that they are (as one put it) acting proactively to avoid any possible confusion over the topic. Even so, I don't see that they are necessary, because, as I said above, if Sharia Law is not consistent with the Constitution, then no notice should be taken of it in US courts whatsoever. Why so much heat over this topic, I wonder?


Let us live in peace. Let there be no misrepresentation of any religion. These are misleading quotes from Quran taking a portion and labelling it out of context.How some people become expert of other religion not knowing there own.
I also wonder why Muslims are pushing for sharia?They have all legal rights available to them

Assad Elabbas

Do you know what is Sharia?
Sharia is addressed to all human beings not to Muslims only. It is God order to people to do good deeds and avoid bad ones. Sharia says don't eat the meat of the dead, don't eat the blood.So when you slain the sheep you get red of its blood while electric shock to the animal keeps its blood inside. Blood is very harmful to human health !!! Ask doctors and make research to confirm that !! Why muslims followed this sharia and slain animals as Jews do?? Sharia is common to all !!!
Some people mix between politics and religion. Some are clearly unti-Islamic and don't know anything about Islam. Those who do not know about Islam has no right to criticize Muslims and issue anti-islam laws.What I know that Muslims in any country follow the rules of that country and I know that Islamic Sharia is common to Moses, Jesus and Mohammad. Quran says:
"Those who believed and those who were Jews or Christians or Sabeans those [among them] who believed in Allah and the Last Day and did righteousness - will have their reward with their Lord, and no fear will there be concerning "...
When death appeared before Jacob? Behold, he said to his sons: "What will ye worship after me?" They said: "We shall worship Thy god and the god of thy fathers, of Abraham, Isma'il and Isaac,- the one (True) Allah: To Him we bow (in Islam)."
These days [of varying conditions] We alternate among the people so that Allah may make evident those who believe and [may] take to Himself from among you martyrs - and Allah does not like the wrongdoers."
I think any law comes against Sharia will lead people to read about it..What is Sharia? What is Islam?
They will find sharia is to do good and avoid bad. Islam means LOYALITY to ONE GOD. That was the common message held by Moses, Jesus and Mohammad !!!


Ifeel senator hayes should be removed from office as he is going against the constituation by trying to join church and state. his behavior only shows his his lack of commitment of up-holding the very foundation of this country. freedom of religion


Sen. Hays is violating his oath of office to uphold the Constitution of Fl and the US. The bill was originally written by David Yerushalami, a zealot Jewish attorney from Arizonia who hates most Jews and all muslims. Hayes has financial ties to several know white supremacy groups including ACT! and the Florida Family League. If you read the bill it excludes particular groups but is against anyone who has a faith that starts with disciplines from out of the country. Note as written Huegonots. Roman Catholics, Old World Amish, Mennonites, all could be prejudiced against. The bill is convoluted but clearly states anyone who is a member of any faith "they" don't agree with can be forced by law and court to follow rulings based on things they morally and personally disagree with. The verbiage of this bill resembles what Hitler told the Lutherans as he built death camps. Seems only right wing bigoted religion is protected by law according to those pushing this bill.


Thanks to the Miami-Herald for exposing this rabid anti-religious and Islamophobic within the hallways of our elected officials. It is simply sickening.

Holger Danske is Wide Awake

America and its residence and citizens are governed and bound-by state and federal laws that are compliant with state constitutions and the US Constitution...not what's "compliant" with foreign, international, or religious law. Any "community" that claims sovereignty---by freedom of religion---to eschew state and federal laws for their own laws (especially criminal laws) is committing seditioun. PERIOD.

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