Republican Congressmen Introduce Federal "No Sharia Act" to Ban Islamic Law in U.S. Courts
Representatives Randy Fine of Florida and Keith Self of Texas unveiled sweeping legislation Friday that would prohibit American courts from applying Islamic law, reigniting national debates over religious freedom and constitutional supremacy.
Two Republican lawmakers introduced the "No Sharia Act" on September 19, marking the latest federal effort to prevent Islamic legal principles from influencing American judicial proceedings. Representatives Randy Fine of Florida and Keith Self of Texas announced the legislation amid rising tensions over religious accommodation in government institutions across multiple states.
Targeting Religious Legal Systems
The proposed federal legislation would prohibit courts from recognizing any rulings, decrees, or arbitration decisions based on Sharia law or foreign legal systems that violate constitutional rights. Fine emphasized the bill's core principle in a statement to The Daily Wire: "We are not going to become a Muslim nation. There are plenty out there. If you want to live under Sharia, return to where you came from, but we're not interested in you coming here and conquering our country".
"We cannot have two sets of laws. There is one in the United States. It's called the U.S. Constitution."
— Rep. Keith Self (R-TX)
Self argued that the United States must maintain a single legal framework, telling The Daily Wire that "we cannot have two different civilizations with different laws". The legislation declares that "the Constitution of the United States is and must remain the supreme law of the land, and no foreign law or legal system may be permitted to undermine it".
State-Level Precedent Drives Federal Push
The federal bill emerges following Texas Governor Greg Abbott's high-profile campaign against the implementation of Islamic law in his state. Abbott signed House Bill 4211 in September, targeting what he termed "Sharia compounds" and specifically referencing the controversial EPIC City development near Dallas.
Self directly cited the Texas controversy as motivation for federal action, noting that "the influence of Shariah was already present in Texas". The congressman participated in Abbott's ceremonial signing of the Texas legislation banning religiously exclusive residential developments.
Constitutional Scholars Raise Concerns
Legal experts argue that existing constitutional protections already prevent foreign law from overriding American legal principles. The Islamic Network Group states that "since Muslims constitute only 1 to 2% of the American populace, there is minimal risk [of] Sharia being [applied to] U.S. law [in] American courts".
The organization emphasizes that the First Amendment protects religious exercise rights for all faiths, noting that "American Muslims are merely required to follow U.S. law as the law of the land, which they must obey. American [Muslims] are merely [trying] to follow [Islamic principles] in their [personal] life just as practicing Jews follow Jewish law".
Context of Anti-Sharia Movement
Research from the Haas Institute for a Fair and Inclusive Society at UC Berkeley documented approximately 194 anti-Sharia bills introduced across American states between 2010 and 2016, with 18 becoming law in 12 states. The movement gained momentum following September 11, 2001, as conservative activists raised concerns about Islamic law's influence in American institutions.
Brooklyn lawyer David Yerushalmi has been identified as a key architect of the anti-Sharia movement, exercising "striking influence over American public discourse about Shariah," according to New York Times reporting. The movement has faced criticism from civil rights organizations who argue it normalizes "the exclusion of Muslims and [fosters] a climate of fear".
Texas Controversy Fuels National Attention
The federal legislation follows weeks of controversy in Texas, where Governor Abbott declared he had "signed laws that BAN Sharia Law and Sharia Compounds in Texas" after a viral video showed Houston Imam F. Qasim ibn Ali Khan pressuring Muslim-owned businesses to stop selling alcohol, pork, and lottery tickets.
Abbott's statements drew sharp criticism from the Council on American-Islamic Relations, which called his assertions "divorced from reality". They emphasized that Sharia provides Muslims with moral guidance rather than criminal law. The organization noted that "Sharia is not a criminal code and poses no threat to American law".
Legislative Pathway Uncertain
The No Sharia Act faces an uncertain future in Congress, as it requires committee review before it can be considered by the House. Even if passed by the Republican-majority House, the legislation would need Senate approval and would likely face constitutional challenges in federal courts.
Fine has previously drawn attention for inflammatory rhetoric about Muslims and Arabs, including posts claiming that "their goal was to bring sharia law to America" following unrelated community initiatives. The congressman serves Florida's 6th congressional district and has been identified by civil rights organizations for "Islamophobic and anti-Palestinian" statements.
As the legislation moves through the congressional process, it represents the latest flashpoint in ongoing national debates about religious accommodation, constitutional supremacy, and the role of diverse communities in American legal and political institutions.