OVO

When asked whether sharia law should be disallowed in the United States, Congressman Mel Watt (D-NC) responded in this way: “The First Amendment of the United States Constitution guarantees the free exercise of religious principles. Therefore, I believe that the language proposed in your email would be unconstitutional and I would not support it.”

Much of what is allowed under sharia law is already disallowed under United States law. For example, it is illegal to beat women to death if they are perceived as not sufficiently Muslim. It is illegal to have sex with children. It is illegal to non-surgically amputate people’s hands as a punishment for a crime. Illegal under United States law, but legal under sharia law.

Congressman Watt spoke out against the display of the Ten Commandments in secular courts. He declined to vote on removing the words “under God” from the Pledge of Allegiance. It is possible that Congressman Watt prefers to let existing United States law that goes against sharia law stand, and where United States law is silent and sharia law is not he prefers to let people make their own decisions.