Mayor of Irving, Texas recently said the first known Shariah Court in the United States would not have any legal authority to implement Islamic law in the state. In a statement on her Facebook page, Beth van Duyne denied allegations that the Islamic Tribunal at the Islamic Center in Irving had acquired any legal power.
“Recently, there have been rumors suggesting that the city of Irving has somehow condoned, approved or enacted the implementation of a Shariah law court in our city,” wrote van Duyne. “Let me be clear, neither the city of Irving, our elected officials or city staff have anything to do with the decision of the mosque that has been identified as starting a Shariah court.”
After several news sources suggested a Sunni mosque in Irving had decided to set up an Islamic Tribunal to hear certain legal disputes within the Muslim community, a spokesperson from the community clarified that the purpose of such a body is to offer Muslims an Islamic point of view on how they should conduct themselves and nothing more.
“We are not here to invade the White House or invade Austin. … We are humble and want to settle a problem between Muslims,” said Imam Moujahed Bakhach. “Maybe in their mind, the misconception about what they see through the media is that Shariah means cut the head, chop the heads, cut the hands, and we are not in that.”
Van Duyne also said as mayor, she had taken an oath that makes her obligated to uphold the laws of Texas as well as the United States Constitution and she would not allow the Shariah Court to infringe upon citizens’ rights.
“Texas Supreme Court precedent does not allow the application of foreign law that violates public policy, statutory, or federal laws,” continued van Duyne. “I am working with our State Representatives on legislation to clarify and strengthen existing prohibitions on the application of foreign law in violation of constitutional or statutory rights.”
After the initial media reports, Frank Gaffney from the Center for Security Policy in Washington DC said greater coercion would follow the setting up of an Islamic tribunal.
“I think what we will see is a coercion of Muslims to participate in this program,” said Gaffney. “[Shariah] is a brutally repressive — very hostile to women, hostile to homosexuals, hostile to Jews, hostile to Christians — kind of totalitarian system.”
However, van Duyne stressed that if she was to find out there has been any violation of Texas’ basic rights, she would not stand idle and fight with every fiber of her being instead.
“Our nation cannot be so overly sensitive in defending other cultures that we stop protecting our own,” added van Duyne. “The American Constitution and our guaranteed rights reigns supreme in our nation and may that ever be the case.”
Photo Credits: Dallas News
