Take Action: Stop the Muslim Bashing at the Legislature

Texas politicians are again targeting Muslim Americans with thinly veiled discriminatory legislation. On Tuesday the Texas House Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence Committee will hear testimony on three bills that threaten religious freedom for everyone, but especially religious minorities. We need your help to stop these bills.

HB 562 by state Rep. Jeff Leach, R-Plano, HB 670 by state Rep. Dan Flynn, R-Canton, and HB 3698 by state Rep. Molly White, R-Belton, are worded differently but are all based on the unfounded claim that American Muslims are trying to impose Sharia, or Islamic law, in Texas. In fact, Rep. Leach has already said the purpose of his bill is to stop the mythical threat of Sharia here.

TAKE ACTION
Contact members of the Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence Committee to express your opposition to these bills. Their contact information can be found below. Tell committee members:

• The U.S. and Texas Constitutions already prohibit courts from imposing any religious law as civil law. The American Bar Association has made clear that bills like these duplicate safeguards already enshrined in federal and state law.
• The Anti-Defamation Defamation League calls bills like these “a form of camouflaged bigotry” that treats “Muslim Americans as foreigners and anti-American crusaders.”
• These bills — especially HB 562 and HB 3698 — needlessly complicate matters involving family law and intrude on the freedom of religious organizations and individuals to enter into nonbinding dispute resolution proceedings.
• This legislation — especially HB 670 — could interfere with Texas businesses engaged in international trade litigation and with Texas businesses negotiating international deals.

Members of the House Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence Committee