An Alabama Senate nominee has come under fire for claiming parts of Indiana are subject to ‘Sharia Law’ without providing proof.
Former Alabama chief justice Roy Moore, running for the Republican nomination in the state, said the strict Islamic law was practiced in at least two states.
But when pressed by Vox’s Jeff Stein, Moore replied: ‘Well, there’s Sharia law, as I understand it, in Illinois, Indiana — up there. I don’t know.’
Alabama Senate nominee Roy Moore has come under fire for claiming parts of Indiana are subject to ‘Sharia Law’ without providing proof
Former Alabama chief justice Roy Moore, running for the Republican nomination in the state, said the strict Islamic law was practiced in at least two states. Pictured: People hold signs during a rally countering an anti-Islamic protest in Seattle
He went on to say he had ‘been told’ some communities were under Sharia law before again starting: ‘Well, let me just put it this way — if they are, they are. If they’re not, they’re not… That doesn’t matter.’
Moore described the practice is ‘incorporating Muslim law into law’, going on to say: ‘That’s not what we do. We do not punish people according to the Christian precepts of our faith — so there’s a difference.’
Azhar Azeez, president of the Islamic Society of North America, dismissed Moore’s claims – and allegations that Sharia is being enforced around the country – as a ‘blatant lie’.
He told the Indy Star that Sharia is not linked to civic laws which govern cities and states, rather it is a private belief among individuals and families.
He said: ‘This is no different from our Jewish brothers and sisters, our Catholic brothers and sisters, our Protestant brothers and sisters, our Hindu brothers and sisters, when it comes to their personal and family religious laws,.
‘Sharia is not about influencing another person. The Quran is very clear there is no compulsion in religion.’
When pressed on his allegations by Vox’s Jeff Stein, Moore replied: ‘Well, there’s Sharia law, as I understand it, in Illinois, Indiana — up there. I don’t know.’
Azhar Azeez, president of the Islamic Society of North America, dismissed Moore’s claims – and allegations that Sharia is being enforced around the country – as a ‘blatant lie’. Pictured: An alt-right member during a rally against sharia law