Foreign Law Bill Draws Muslim Criticism

According to a bill pre-filed by Kentucky Rep. Kim King for the 2013 session, the laws in Kentucky and the United States Constitution take precedence over foreign laws.

The bill is similar to others filed in more than 20 states that some Muslims have criticized as anti-Islamic, even though the bill doesn’t mention Islam.

King said she is addressing the concerns that a constituent brought to her and that it isn’t necessary to cite foreign laws to determine cases in the U.S.

However, some Muslims said that while such bills don’t mention Islam, many of the bills’ sponsors and supporters have stirred anti-Muslim sentiment in public hearings.

Legislation that references “foreign law” has become common across the nation in the past two years, said Ibrahim Hooper, spokesman for the Council of American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) in Washington, D.C. He went on to say that foreign law bills give a false impression that Muslims are trying to impose such laws in America.

King said she doesn’t know of specific cases where foreign law has been used, but said she wants to put in the protection.