Anti-Sharia Law Bill Dies in Florida Senate
A Florida bill that would have barred applying Muslim sharia law in family or divorce court matters, has reportedly died in the state Senate.
The measure, which experts warned could also impact Jewish divorce issues, was never brought up for a vote in the closing hours of the Senate’s legislative session, according to local reports.
The bill overwhelmingly passed the state house last week and seemed headed for easy passage in the Republican-controlled Senate.
But Muslim and other groups lobbied leaders to hold off on passing the bill, which barred application of “foreign” laws in divorce or family court matters.
Although the bill did not mention sharia law, proponents are part of a national movement against what they see as influence of the traditional Muslim legal code.
Because of the bill’s vague wording, some Jewish leaders also worried that the bill could prevent Jewish couples from using a religious court, or beth din, to mediate divorces.
Several Jewish groups spoke out against the bill, although Jewish lawmakers in the House were divided. The bill is dead for now, but supporters note it could be brought up again in future sesssions.
I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s award-winning journalism this Passover.
In this age of misinformation, our work is needed like never before. We report on the news that matters most to American Jews, driven by truth, not ideology.
At a time when newsrooms are closing or cutting back, the Forward has removed its paywall. That means for the first time in our 126-year history, Forward journalism is free to everyone, everywhere. With an ongoing war, rising antisemitism, and a flood of disinformation that may affect the upcoming election, we believe that free and open access to Jewish journalism is imperative.
Readers like you make it all possible. Right now, we’re in the middle of our Passover Pledge Drive and we need 500 people to step up and make a gift to sustain our trustworthy, independent journalism.
Make a gift of any size and become a Forward member today. You’ll support our mission to tell the American Jewish story fully and fairly.
— Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO
Join our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.
Our Goal: 500 gifts during our Passover Pledge Drive!
