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HR 5512119th CongressIn Committee
No Shari’a Act
Introduced: Sep 19, 2025
Sponsor: Rep. Fine, Randy [R-FL-6] (R-Florida)
Civil Rights & Justice
Standard Summary
Comprehensive overview in 1-2 paragraphs
This bill seeks to prohibit the application of Shari'a (Islamic law) in United States courts and legal proceedings when such application would violate constitutional rights. The legislation appears designed to prevent foreign or religious legal systems from superseding U.S. constitutional protections. While the bill's stated purpose is to protect constitutional rights, it specifically targets one religious legal tradition, which raises questions about religious freedom and equal treatment under the law. The bill would likely affect family law matters, contract disputes, and other civil cases where parties might seek to apply religious principles, requiring courts to reject such applications if they conflict with constitutional protections.
Key Points
- 1Prohibits U.S. courts from applying or enforcing Shari'a law when doing so would violate constitutional rights
- 2Specifically targets Islamic legal principles rather than addressing foreign or religious law generally
- 3Applies to both federal and state court proceedings across all jurisdictions
- 4Covers situations where parties voluntarily agree to apply Shari'a principles in their disputes
- 5Enforcement mechanism would require courts to reject Shari'a-based arguments that conflict with constitutional protections
Impact Areas
Religious communities: Particularly affects Muslim Americans who may wish to resolve disputes according to religious principles in matters like marriage, divorce, or inheritanceJudicial system: Requires courts to evaluate and potentially reject religious law applications, adding complexity to legal proceedingsConstitutional law: Raises First Amendment questions regarding religious freedom, free exercise of religion, and potential establishment clause concerns about government targeting of a specific religionCivil litigation: Affects contract law, family law, and arbitration where parties might incorporate religious principles into agreements
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