Voters in Oklahoma will decide if judges in Oklahoma courtrooms can consider laws from other countries, or cultures, in making their decisions (House Joint Resolution 1056). A court would be limited to only using federal law, the Constitution, established common law, and state law in their rulings. The Joint Resolution 1056 passed both House and Senate with only two dissenting votes.
Islamic Sharia Law is Controversial
A publication by the Council on Foreign Relations, March 23, 2009 by Lauren Vriens, quoted Steven A. Coor, CFR senior fellow for Middle Eastern studies.
"Sharia's influence on both personal status law and criminal law is highly controversial. Some interpretations justify cruel punishments and unequal treatment of women. The debate is whether sharia can coexist with secularism, democracy, or even modernism".
There are variations of sharia law, stemming from different areas. The traditional Muslim believes that sharia (Islamic law) expresses the highest and best goals for all societies. The harsh punishments are not compulsory outside an Islamic court of law, but even then, these punishments and policies seem excessive. Some examples are:
- Islam commands drinkers and gamblers be whipped
- Islam allows husbands to hit their wives, even for overbearing attitudes in the wife
- Islam allows an injured plaintiff to exact legal revenge – an eye for an eye
- Islam commands a male and female thief must have a hand cut off
- Islam commands highway robbers be crucified or mutilated
- Islam commands homosexuals be executed
- Islam orders unmarried fornicators to be whipped and adulterers to be stoned to death
- Islam orders death for Muslim and possible death for non-Muslim critics of Muhammad and the Koran and even sharia itself
- Islam orders apostates (someone who renounces the belief) be killed
- Islam commands offensive, aggressive, and unjust jihad
The current administration in Washington, D.C. has shown consideration towards Islam and Muslim religious beliefs. Some judges on the Supreme Court have used opinions from outside the United States in their case rulings. In a conservative state like Oklahoma, that causes great concern.
Oklahoma Political Views
Oklahoma's principles and political views are conservative by nature. Although Democrats hold many offices in Oklahoma and a few in Washington, D.C., Oklahoma Democrats are conservative.
Illegal Aliens
Oklahoma was one first state that dealt with illegal immigrants. The State Legislature passed House Bill 1804, which took effect on November 1, 2007. This bill gave authorities the right to check the immigration status of anyone arrested in Oklahoma and enforce deportation of illegal aliens.
In 2008, the United States Attorney General threatened Oklahoma with reduction of government funds due to this passage. The Oklahoma Legislature responded with a Joint House Resolution telling Washington, D.C. to "back off", quoting The Tenth Amendment:
- "The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people."
It is not surprising that Oklahoma views the encroaching laws of the Muslim religion as threatening. Of the 6.5 million residents of the state (2009 census), only about 30,000 are Muslim. The amendment is expected to pass.
Beverly Bright - Beverly worked in industrial/commercial Architectural Drafting and Design for 35 years and owned and managed her own business for 17 of ...
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