US EditionGov. Greg Abbott calls for investigation into ‘Sharia courts’ in Texas
Gov. Greg Abbott alleges the Dallas Islamic Tribunal enforces Sharia law illegally and calls for legal scrutiny of rival court systems violating Texas law.
- On Wednesday, Gov. Greg Abbott asked North Texas district attorneys and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton to investigate the Islamic Tribunal, Dallas, which he said set up a rival court to enforce Sharia.
- Abbott argued that the U.S. Constitution does not authorize religious courts to bypass laws, noting religious groups may adjudicate ecclesiastical matters but cannot evade neutral laws, and cited Islamic scriptures referenced in his letter for violent punishments like stoning.
- According to the tribunal and its founder's spokesman, Islamic Tribunal judges handle family law mediation and arbitration, referring decisions to Texas courts, while attorney Khalid Hamideh said religious courts have existed since the republic's founding.
- The Council on American-Islamic Relations responded Wednesday that Abbott's directive attacks religious freedom, while Edward Ahmed Mitchell said many faiths use religious arbitration and officials noted safeguards prevent illegal punishments.
- Legally, experts note that private religious arbitration offers an alternative to civil courts, with Texas civil courts enforcing decisions that comply with public policy, and groups like The Institute for Christian Conciliation and The Beth Din of America also provide such services.
21 Articles
21 Articles
Texas governor announces plan to root out ‘shari’ah courts’
FacebookLikeShareTweetEmail The Governor of Texas Greg Abbott has announced a campaign to root out and “purge” the state of all “shari’ah courts,” claiming that Islamic law is totally banned from the area. In a letter sent to the North Texas District Attorneys and Attorney General of Texas’ offices, Governor Abbott called for an investigation into […]
Gov. Abbott ask law enforcement officials to investigate 'Sharia Courts'
Texas Governor Greg Abbott has called for investigations into Sharia tribunals, which he claims are masquerading as legal courts and violating state and federal laws, while the Islamic Tribunal has responded that the Governor's comments are factually and legally incorrect.
‘Texas constitution does not allow Sharia courts or Sharia law’: Gov. Greg Abbott
Governor Greg Abbott, R-Texas, comments on news of investigations into Sharia courts in Texas and the designation of CAIR Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist organization on ‘Hannity.’
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