AAF Thanks Lawmaker for Withdrawing Anti-Sharia Bill 

(PATERSON, NJ, March 12, 2012) -- Leaders of the New Jersey Muslim community today thanked Assemblywoman Holly Schepisi for her decision to withdraw bill A-919, which would have prohibited "application of foreign laws," from further consideration by that state's legislature.  

SEE: A-919  http://tinyurl.com/7pqcxgs  

Assemblywoman Schepisi, who represents the 39th legislative district in Bergen and Passaic Counties, introduced the bill in late 2011. It was originally introduced in 2010 by Assemblywoman Charlotte Vandervalk. Bills with similar language have been promoted by those seeking to target Sharia, or Islamic principles. 

SEE: Bans on Court Use of Sharia/International Law

http://tinyurl.com/7oqyvub 

David Yerushalmi: A Driving Force Behind Anti-Sharia Efforts

http://www.adl.org/main_Extremism/david_yerushalmi.htm

Meet the White Supremacist Leading the GOP's Anti-Sharia Crusade

http://tinyurl.com/4amcmex 

Anti-Sharia bills were recently withdrawn or failed to pass in Minnesota, Georgia and Florida.  

CAIR: Minn. Lawmaker Drops Anti-Sharia Bill

http://tinyurl.com/894brvo

CAIR Hails 'Sharia' Victory in Florida

http://tinyurl.com/7tzwac6 

"This is a wise decision by the esteemed assemblywoman," said Dr. Aref Assaf, president of the American Arab Forum, a think-tank based in Paterson, N.J. "Of course we want our Constitution to be the supreme law of the land. New Jersey need not follow other states that have either passed or attempted to pass similar legislation that has the principal objective of demonizing the faith of millions of American Muslims." 

"Rather than strengthening constitutional protections, these bills undoubtedly violate religious freedom and weaken the independence of our courts," said Council on American-Islamic Relations-New Jersey (CAIR-NJ) Chair Nadia Kahf. "We thank Assemblywoman Schepisi for her decision in support of religious freedom and constitutional rights." 

The American Arab Forum is the leading Arab-American organization in New Jersey. Its focus is to proactively advocate for Arab and Muslim-American affairs. GO TO: www.aafusa.org 

CAIR is America's largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.