Kansas governor signs bill banning Islamic law

Discussion in 'Latest US & World News' started by Mandrake, May 26, 2012.

  1. Mandrake

    Mandrake New Member

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    By Kevin Murphy | Reuters – 12 hrs ago

    http://news.yahoo.com/kansas-governor-signs-bill-effectively-banning-islamic-law-234840632.html

    KANSAS CITY, Kansas (Reuters) - Republican Kansas Governor Sam Brownback signed a bill aimed at keeping state courts and agencies from using Islamic or other non-U.S. laws when making decisions, his office said on Friday, drawing criticism from a national Muslim group.

    The law has been dubbed the "sharia bill" because critics say it targets the Islamic legal code. Sharia, or Islamic law, covers all aspects of Muslim life, including religious obligations and financial dealings. Opponents of state bans say they could nullify wills or legal contracts between Muslims.

    Supporters said the law will reassure foreigners in Kansas that state laws and the U.S. Constitution would protect them. Opponents said it singled out Muslims for ridicule and was unnecessary because American laws prevail on U.S. soil.

    Sherriene Jones-Sontag, a spokeswoman for the governor, said in an e-mail that the bill "makes it clear that Kansas courts will rely exclusively on the laws of our state and our nation when deciding cases and will not consider the laws of foreign jurisdictions."

    Legislators supporting the bill said there were many cases around the country where judges or state agencies cited sharia law in deciding cases, especially involving divorce-related custody and property matters where Islamic code differs from U.S. law.

    The Council on American-Islamic Relations in Washington denounced the Kansas law and said it is considering legal action.

    About 20 states have considered similar legislation but the Kansas law is the only one signed in recent weeks, council spokesman Ibrahim Hooper said.

    "It's unfortunate the governor chose to pander to the growing Islam-phobia in our society that has led to introduction of similar unconstitutional and un-American legislation in dozens of state legislatures," Hooper said.

    Hooper said legislators have often referred to sharia law in supporting such legislation, but he said they take the word out of the bill to stave off legal challenges. The Kansas bill does not mention sharia.

    Federal courts struck down an Oklahoma law voters approved in 2010 that barred state judges from considering sharia law in making decisions. The court called the law discriminatory.

    (Editing by Greg McCune and Stacey Joyce)
     
  2. MisLed

    MisLed New Member

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    It's a shame that we should have to go to these lengths to protect ourselves from this filth called sharia and islamization. Good for Mr. Brownback.
     
  3. toddwv

    toddwv Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    This law is destined to be struck down as unconstitutional. Its sole premise is ignorance and its main motivations are irrational fear and hatred.
     
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  4. Mandrake

    Mandrake New Member

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    I believe it has been re-worded to survive the legal tests that a similar Oklahoma law failed in Federal Court. The 20 other States considering such legislation will watch and learn and perhaps re-word their similar bills to survive the tests should the Kansas law fail.
     
  5. toddwv

    toddwv Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    It's possible, but it will have a HUGE affect on civil mediation and, therefore, voluntary contractual obligations.

    It's simply a bad law with a clear dogmatic aim that less-than-covertly targets one religion.
     
  6. Mandrake

    Mandrake New Member

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    The law targets all laws that are un-American, such as Jewish and Catholic laws and declares them legally non-binding. It's true that such laws are already superceded by American laws, but I suppose this is Kansas' way of saying that they are really, really non-binding.
     
  7. junius. fils

    junius. fils New Member

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    What a truly stupid and unneeded exercise in political grandstanding.

    KANSAS CITY, Kansas (Reuters) - Republican Kansas Governor Sam Brownback signed a bill aimed at keeping state courts and agencies from using Islamic or other non-U.S. laws when making decisions...

    Courts use non-US laws when making decisions all the time. The technical term is, I believe, if it's a good idea, let's consider it. Notice, I say "use." Not ENFORCE. I will USE any law or any concept in the World in that I will think about it.

    The law has been dubbed the "sharia bill" because critics say it targets the Islamic legal code. Sharia, or Islamic law, covers all aspects of Muslim life, including religious obligations and financial dealings. Opponents of state bans say they could nullify wills or legal contracts between Muslims.

    Supporters said the law will reassure foreigners in Kansas that state laws and the U.S. Constitution would protect them. Opponents said it singled out Muslims for ridicule and was unnecessary because American laws prevail on U.S. soil.

    We know that. They have just admitted that this law is totally useless.

    Sherriene Jones-Sontag, a spokeswoman for the governor, said in an e-mail that the bill "makes it clear that Kansas courts will rely exclusively on the laws of our state and our nation when deciding cases and will not consider the laws of foreign jurisdictions."

    Legislators supporting the bill said there were many cases around the country where judges or state agencies cited sharia law in deciding cases, especially involving divorce-related custody and property matters where Islamic code differs from U.S. law.

    Does this mean that the courts are forbidden to consider in their decisions such things as pre-nup agreements, or any (to include christian) input on family-related matters - pre-marital counseling perhaps? church-sponsored marriage counseling? agreements on property or child custody matters arrived upon with the input of "Christian" clergy? As for property matters, this law is completely stupid. If any contract is signed, based on "islamic" principles (not further identified), that means that both parties have agreed to the terms of the contract. This presumes that they read the bloody thing. Whether they read it or not, if the contract is in accord with EXISTING contract law, it is legal. If it is not, it can be based on "Christian", Islamic, Jewish, or Pastafarian law and it is not legal. Again, this is an example of pandering to religious bigotry and of cheap-shot election grandstanding.

    The Council on American-Islamic Relations in Washington denounced the Kansas law and said it is considering legal action.

    I think they'll win. I also don't think they have to. The first time the matter comes up, any honest judge will throw the law so far out of court it will burn up on re-entry.

    ...
     
  8. toddwv

    toddwv Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    So personal agreements through contracts, and we're talking purely about non-criminal circumstances, should be non-binding if they are established based on the religious beliefs of the parties involved?
     
  9. Mandrake

    Mandrake New Member

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    I think the spirit of the law is to make Kansas unappealing to muslims. It's their way of saying "Your culture will not be respected here".
     
  10. Junkieturtle

    Junkieturtle Well-Known Member Donor

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    How this law doesn't violate the 1st amendment is beyond me. Of course, since it's not curtailing Christianity, you'll only have a token opposition to it from the non-religious and from the Muslim community. Actually, it seems to me that a law curtailing the basis of laws and decisions on the bible would be far more useful in this country than this xenophobic crap.
     
  11. toddwv

    toddwv Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    Technically, laws based on Christianity are "foreign laws" since they don't originate in this country. However, we know that is not the concern here and I doubt that Kansas will be rushing to toss any "Christian" laws out anytime soon.
     
  12. Mandrake

    Mandrake New Member

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    Well, I think there are other Kansas laws that should be tossed out. Here are some examples:

    Rabbits may not be shot from motorboats.

    Pedestrians crossing the highways at night must wear tail lights.

    No one may catch fish with his bare hands.

    The state game rule prohibits the use of mules to hunt ducks.

    If two trains meet on the same track, neither shall proceed until the other has passed.

    http://www.dumblaws.com/laws/united-states/kansas
     
  13. Mandrake

    Mandrake New Member

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    How do you train a mule to hunt ducks....do they kick them?
     
  14. OJLeb

    OJLeb New Member

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    The anti-Islamic fear-mongering in America is in full force in Kansas. And it will likely spread.

    I am just curious, how do they define "non-American laws"? Surely this law in itself is non-American.

    And what do any of these Kansas politicians even know about Sharia?
     
  15. Big George

    Big George Banned

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    It doesn't take any kind of genius to see what Sharia Law is, and to know that it should NEVER become a part of the American legal system.

    This is just a preemptive strike - well informed or not.
     
  16. Ronald0

    Ronald0 New Member

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    You definitely don't know. So what does that really make you?
     
  17. OJLeb

    OJLeb New Member

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    Oh, then please, do go on. Explain, what is Sharia?
     
  18. CKW

    CKW Well-Known Member

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    Its not just Sharia. There have been cases of judges including an immigrant's native country laws and customs as a basis for a decision--that were in conflict to U.S laws. What this bill does is reinerate to judges that they make decisions based on U.S laws.
     
  19. smalltime

    smalltime Active Member

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    They know what they need to know.

    They know sharia allows for cruelty towards women, and daughters. They know it allows for The church to dictate what people wear, how they cut their hair, what they eat. They know that Sharia allows for slavery. They know that Sharia dictates the death penalty for Homosexual acts.

    We don't want that stuff here.
     
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  20. Ronald0

    Ronald0 New Member

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    Not really. The justice system is obvious in this respect. When there is a contradiction between the two, US law will always prevail. If a judge was doing it, the problem was with the judge NOT the laws.
     
  21. Ronald0

    Ronald0 New Member

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    Not really. The Sharia is against all those. However, extremist elements use it the same way that Christians used it to justify slavery in America or the atrocities of Zionists.
     
  22. CKW

    CKW Well-Known Member

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    If a judge uses only U.S law....there is no contradiction to worry about.
     
  23. Big George

    Big George Banned

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    Could you POSSIBLY come up with a more STUPID response than that?

    I know EXACTLY what Sharia Law is, which is why I know it is NOT a good thing for ANYBODY.


    Good lord... THINK before you write stupid crap like this.
     
  24. Big George

    Big George Banned

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    College kid. Geez...

    For people like YOU who do NOT know what Sharia Law is, it (in its simplest explanation) is the religious/moral code/law of Islam.


    Would you like me to elaborate?
     
  25. OJLeb

    OJLeb New Member

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    Please do, and provide proof.
     

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