Oklahoma Foreign Law Question (2012)
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| This measure was not put on an election ballot |
The Oklahoma Foreign Law Question did not make the 2012 ballot in the state of Oklahoma as a legislatively referred state statute. The measure proposed to prohibit foreign laws from being enforced in state courtrooms. The measure was similar to State Question 755, which was enacted by voters in the 2010 general election. However, that measure was blocked from taking effect by a U.S. District judge. State Representative Sally Kern, who authored the measure, stated that if enacted by voters, the law would not have been subject to litigation. The reason being was that the proposal did not single out a religion, according to Kern. State Question 755 sought to block courts from using the Islamic Sharia Law when handing down rulings.[1][2]
Opposition
Opponents
- Director of the Oklahoma chapter of the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR), Maneer Awad stated that the measure would have jeopardized contracts that state businesses have with international companies and that the proposal was based on "misinformation and bigotry." Awad was also an opponent of State Question 755, which appeared on the November 2, 2010 general election ballot in the state.[3]
Path to the ballot
On February 28, 2011, the House Judiciary Committee voted to approve the proposal. The measure was then placed in front of the Oklahoma House of Representatives for discussion. The measure passed the Oklahoma House of Representatives with a vote of 76-3. However, the measure died in the Oklahoma State Senate when the Senate Rules Committee denied a hearing on the measure.[1][4]
See also
Similar measures
Oklahoma "Sharia Law Amendment", State Question 755 (2010)
- Texas "Sharia Law Amendment" (2011)
- Nebraska International Law Amendment (2011)
- Alabama "Sharia Law Amendment" (2012)
- Missouri "Sharia Law Amendment" (2012)
- Wyoming "Sharia Law Amendment" (2012)
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 The Oklahoman, "Oklahoma House panel backs comprehensive anti-illegal immigration measure," March 1, 2011
- ↑ Oklahoma Legislature, "House Bill 1552," accessed March 4, 2011
- ↑ KFOR.com, "Muslim leader denounces Oklahoma bill restricting use of foreign law as based on 'bigotry'," April 11, 2011 (dead link)
- ↑ Talking Points Memo, "Oklahoma Anti-Sharia Efforts Thwarted Again As Bill Dies In State Senate," April 12, 2011
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