Oklahoma State Representative Gabe Woolley has tabled a resolution aimed at banning Sharia Law and any similar foreign legal codes from being recognized in the state's court system. According to a report by the Oklahoma House of Representatives, Woolley's proposed House Joint Resolution 1040 would put forth a constitutional amendment to Oklahoma voters to address concerns over non-U.S. legal systems, emphasizing the supremacy of the U.S. Constitution.
Woolley, representing Broken Arrow and a member of the Republican Party, has framed this resolution as a defense of individual liberties. "Sharia Law is a political ideology painted as a religion," Woolley stated, arguing that it poses a threat to rights protected under the U.S. Constitution. Critics, however, might see this motion as stoking fears rather than allaying them. A similar amendment was passed by Oklahoma voters in 2010 but was subsequently struck down by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit.
The push for renewed legislative action comes amidst Woolley's concerns about Sharia Law influencing other U.S. states and regions abroad. "Oklahoma does not want to become to the next Dearborn, Michigan," Woolley said, in reference to perceived changes in other states due to the influence of foreign laws. His comments echo a history of controversial debate in the state over the influence of foreign legal systems on domestic law, according to the Oklahoma House of Representatives.
If the resolution garners approval from both the Oklahoma House and Senate, it would then be put to a vote by state residents. HJR1040 will be up for consideration when the Legislature convenes on February 2. Whether the resolution will encounter the same legal challenges as its predecessor from 2010 remains to be seen, with the balance between concerns of preservation of constitutional rights and allegations of political fearmongering at play in the discussions ahead.
