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Judge blocks Oklahoma ban on Shariah law -

November 08, 2010

Josh Gerstein

Judge blocks Oklahoma ban on Shariah law

A federal judge in Oklahoma has issued a temporary restraining order barring the state from adopting a constitutional amendment voters passed last week that forbids state courts from enforcing Islamic law, also known as Shariah.

The executive director of the local branch of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, Muneer Awad, filed suit over the measure, claiming that it violates religious freedom guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution.

Awad said, for instance, that the measure could preclude the courts from enforcing or executing his will, since it includes references to Islamic law.

According to unofficial results, Oklahoma voters overwhelmingly adopted the measure by a vote of 70 percent in favor to 30 percent opposed. The proposal also included a ban on state courts' use of international law.

Judge Vicki Miles LaGrange's order barring certification of last week's vote is to remain in place at least through another hearing on Awad's suit set for Nov. 22, The Associated Press reported.

"The Court ... finds that the plaintiff has met the factors for this Court to enter a Temporary Restraining Order. The Court will issue an order as soon as possible," a clerk's filing in the case says.