**Previously recorded by Phyllis Schlafly // February 2012 **
Several state legislatures have passed a law to instruct judges not to use any foreign law in deciding cases in U.S. courts, and several more state legislatures are considering bills that say the same thing. These are very important laws because we certainly do not want any foreign law to override the U.S. Constitution or our rule of law. However, the Muslims are taking offense at these laws because they want their law, called Sharia, to be recognized in our courts, especially in domestic disputes.
Do you remember the case of a Muslim criminal called the Underwear Bomber, Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, who tried to blow up a commercial airliner with a bomb hidden in his underwear? As the plane was preparing to land in Detroit, passengers saw his underwear burning. They courageously grabbed him, the flight attendants put out the blaze with a fire extinguisher, and the plane made a safe emergency landing.
When this criminal was tried for attempted murder, he pled guilty. At the trial, however, he read a statement he had written saying that, although his behavior may have violated American law, his action was in keeping with Muslim law. Here are his own words: “I attempted to use an explosive device which in the U.S. law is a weapon of mass destruction, which I call a blessed weapon to save the lives of innocent Muslims.” He knew exactly what he was saying because he was well-educated from a wealthy family. He made it clear that killing Americans is not only OK, but is commanded by Sharia law. I’m glad this criminal was given a life sentence with no chance of parole, but how many other Muslims are there in this country who share such views?
Tell your state legislators to hurry up and pass a law to prevent any judge from ever using foreign law in our courts.
