Indiana lawmaker seeks to address Sharia law concerns [View all]

An Indiana lawmaker says he wants to address constituent concerns that judges could use Sharia law, or Islamic religious law, as a legal standard in civil cases.

Sen. Travis Holdman, R-Markle, has proposed Senate Bill 16, which would prohibit judges from using foreign law to impose a restriction that would violate a person's constitutional rights.

Similar legislation already has been enacted in nine states. While the measures have gained traction out of fears about Islamic law, the recent iterations do not explicitly single out Muslims in order to avoid constitutional challenges, some experts say.

Holdman's bill, for instance, centers on denying the "application of foreign law," but does not mention Sharia or lslamic law. Holdman, however, was clear about the motivation behind the legislation.

Read more: http://www.indystar.com/story/news/crime/2016/12/30/indiana-lawmaker-seeks-address-sharia-law-concerns/96000058/