NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee is among the growing list of states entering the debate on Shariah law.
Shariah, or Islamic law, is a code of conduct governing all aspects of Muslim life, including family relationships, business dealings and religious obligations and something Muslims say they look to for moral guidance.
Republican Sen. Bill Ketron of Murfreesboro is sponsoring a bill that would make it felony to follow some versions of Shariah, saying the bill is designed to stop terrorist acts at the earliest point.
"My bill says when two or more people are working together collectively, which creates a Shariah organization then at that point in time, we can move in and disassemble that organization within our state borders," he explained.
Ketron said the bill deals solely with those who take Shariah law to the extreme and is designed to stop terrorist acts before they happen.
He reiterated it has nothing to do with how Muslims worship.
"Absolutely not," he said. "This protects the peaceful Muslims as well as the rest of the citizens of our state."
Muslims, however, feel the bill is an attempt to limit how they worship.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations, or CAIR, which works to protect religious freedoms, says the bill is unconstitutional and would send a message that Tennessee is an intolerant state.
"I feel like freedom of religion is being targeted in our state and that is devastating for our community," Remziya Suleyman with the Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition said.
She added, "We are in the Bible belt, in the south. Religion is part of our heritage, who we are, and to attack one group is really a attack on all groups."
Governor Bill Haslam said he has spoken with Sen. Ketron and House sponsor Rep. Judd Matheny, of Tullahoma, about the bill.
He said, "I think our point is going to be we want to make certain that we are doing everything we can to follow the law No. 1, but No. 2, we are doing things that are welcoming people in Tennessee who are legally here and we continue to do that."
When asked if the bill concerns him, he replied, "I don't know enough about that bill. I have seen it, but I have not had a lot of time with it. We will have a full discussion of that later."
The bill is up for consideration next week.
Several other states are also considering anti-Shariah law bills.
In response to the bill, the Muslim Student Association at Middle Tennessee State University will soon schedule a presentation called "Shariah Law 101."
Imam Ossama Bahloul of the Islamic center of Murfreesboro will give the presentation.
Sen. Bill Ketron (R-Murfreesboro) is the bill's sponsor.
