Senator Parker Welcomes Tenth Circuit Decision on Oklahoma Measure Targeting Shariah Law

I commend the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit’s decision today in Awad v. Ziriax to affirm the preliminary injunction against the Oklahoma “Save our State” Constitutional Amendment banning courts from applying Islamic and international law. Today there is a movement that seeks to ostracize and discriminate fellow Americans on the basis of their religion, Islam. As we mark Rev. Martin Luther King birthday next week, we must continue his mission of seeking equality for all, irrespective of race, gender, sexual orientation, or creed.

In April, many of my Democratic colleagues and I stood up against those promoting anti-Muslim policies in a State Senate hearing. Unfortunately, nearly 25 states have introduced similar measures, some such as Tennessee seek to criminalize the practice of Islam. Religious intolerance and bigotry betray the founding principles of our nation and today the Tenth Circuit confirmed that Oklahoma in trying to “save” their state, betrayed the Constitution.

About Senator Parker

Senator Kevin S. Parker is intimately familiar with the needs of his ethnically diverse community that consists of 311,000 constituents in Flatbush, East Flatbush, Midwood, Ditmas Park, Kensington and Borough Park. He represents the largest expatriate Pakistan community in the United States, the majority of whom are Muslim. He is the Ranking Member of the Senate Energy and Telecommunications Committee, former Majority Whip and First Vice Chair of the Association of Black, Puerto Rican, and Asian Legislators.