A federal judge in Oklahoma today extended a restraining order that will prevent a so-called “Sharia ban” from going into effect for another week.
On Election Day, Oklahoma voters overwhelming approved a ballot question that would amend the state constitution, banning state courts from considering Sharia or international law. Muneer Awad, director of the Oklahoma chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, then filed a lawsuit claiming the law violates his First Amendment rights and could prevent his will, which relies heavily on Islamic teachings, from being carried out. Awad is asking that the court permanently blocks the amendment from going into effect.
The judge is expected to issue a ruling next Monday.
“Every day that State Question 755 is not part of our constitution is a good day for us,” Awad told TPM today over the phone. Awad said he had introduced as evidence some of the language state politicians used while campaigning for the law, saying it proved that their intent was to block the free expression of Islam.
Proponents of the law say it is a “pre-emptive strike” against Muslims who would seek to impose their religious law on the Oklahoma court system.
