Philadelphia Muslims Says Proposed Pa. Law Attempts To Demonize Them
By Mark Abrams
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Members of Philadelphia's Muslim community are disturbed by proposed legislation which they say attacks their faith.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations, based in Philadelphia, is upset with proposed legislation in the Pennsylvania House which would prohibit Pennsylvania courts from applying foreign laws or foreign legal doctrines in deciding cases.
Specifically, the council alleges that Islamic or "sharia" law is under attack in the measure which is sitting in the House Judiciary Committee.
Marwan Kreidie, executive director of the Philadelphia Arab-American Community Development Corporation, says he doesn't believe the bill will go anywhere:
"This is not to make it a law. The purpose of this is an exercise in discrimination. And, simply put, it's this -- and I hate to use the word conspiracy -- but there's a conspiracy afoot here."
Kreidie says similar laws have been introduced in other states by a small group of people whom he says have the sole intent to demonize Islam and make American Muslims a political "wedge" issue.
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