Sharia-Free America Caucus Looks to States in the 120th Congress

FIRST ON THE DAILY SIGNAL—The Daily Signal has learned that the Sharia-Free America Caucus is looking to expand its efforts in preserving the U.S. Constitution beyond Washington in the 120th Congress.

The caucus, which has previously raised awareness of the controversial Islamic rule known as Sharia law and pushed legislation to protect the U.S. Constitution from it, is looking to work with state leaders to codify legislative efforts.

Indiana Lt. Gov. Micah Beckwith told the Daily Signal that the Hoosier State could be a potential partner for the caucus, saying that he would “100 percent [be] all in on this.”

Beckwith said the idea to partner with the congressional caucus to protect his home state from a foreign law that enforces female genital mutilation and creates a hostile environment for those of other religions is not just his personal desire, but one shared by his Indiana constituents.

“This is an 80/20 issue, our offices have seen. It’s almost unlike any other issue,” Beckwith stated, adding that his office is receiving calls from citizens about the issue almost every day.

“I’ve gotten so much support, not just from Republicans, but also Democrats who see that the rise of Sharia is a problem,” he continued.

TRENDING ARTICLES

analysis

Trump EPA Takes Transformative Approach to Ending Plague of Plastic Waste

Tyler O’Neil

news

Georgia Park No Longer Named After Famous ‘Father of American Music’

Rebecca Buis

opinion

Zohran Mamdani Discovers Deregulation

Michael Freund

However, Beckwith explained that people need to raise awareness of what the law entails.

“Islam is not just a religion; it is a political and military ideology,” Beckwith said.

During his phone interview with the Daily Signal, Indiana’s lieutenant governor referred to some uninformed constituents as people who don’t realize the extent of the threat posed by Sharia law, adding that it “will destroy our Constitution.”

“Hoosiers are people who are normally reactive to things instead of being proactive,” he said. “But we don’t have the luxury of being reactive here—we have to understand the issue. Raising awareness will be important.”

One roadblock to defeating Sharia law in America, Beckwith continued, could come from Democrats aligned with the Democratic Socialists of America, whom he called “useful idiots for Sharia.“

He cited the Islamic revolution in Iran in 1979 as a prime example of “what the red-green alliance will look like,” adding that, at the time, the Islamic revolutionary forces used socialist propaganda to secure sufficient public support to overthrow the government. The revolutionary forces then turned around and suppressed the same crowd of people who lifted them up, especially women.

“The only difference between Islam and the [Chinese Communist Party] is that Islam will hide behind a false religion to build a military ideology,” Beckwith said. “We saw it since Muhammad immigrated from Mecca to Medina; they immigrated, populated, and dominated.”

Despite the potential backlash, the lieutenant governor said he believes that “it’s in the realm of possibility” that Indiana will follow Florida and Texas in standing up to the Islamic rule.

“I see an appetite for it,” he concluded.

The idea might have support with state lawmakers. Previously, Indiana state Rep. Andrew Ireland told the Daily Signal that he is ready to work with colleagues to solidify the push in the Indiana Statehouse.

Other States

In Minnesota, state Sen. Michael Holmstrom unveiled a similar caucus in his state’s Legislature, as he previously told the Daily Signal.

On Tuesday, Rep. Randy Fine, R-Fla., a member of the Sharia-Free America Caucus, told the Daily Signal that Florida could be another state that could further codify its fight against “Sharia and mainstream Islam.”

“We’ve certainly led on the issues to ban Sharia and fight back against the threat of mainstream Islam in Florida,” Fine stated. “I represent Florida, and that’s where I’ll be focused.”

Another state that could pursue a partnership with the caucus, Fine hinted, is Texas, where Islamic complexes such as the East Plano Islamic Center have continued to emerge throughout the state.

Most recently, Amy Mek, of the RISE Foundation, a group that raises awareness of extremist groups, also expressed concern about the Northside Islamic Center of San Antonio, which is being built outside Camp Bullis Military Training Reservation, a key U.S. military installation in the Lone Star State.

According to a RAIR Foundation USA report, the development will include a mosque, housing developments, K-12 educational institutions, businesses, and Sharia-compliant separate prayer areas for men, women, and children.

In an interview with the Daily Signal, Mek welcomed the news of the caucus’ potential expansion and future partnerships with states.

“RAIR Foundation strongly supports the congressional anti-Sharia Caucus,” she said, adding that it is a “useful step in educating federal officials about the dangers of Islam in America and in encouraging them to take action.”

Mek added that pressure by the federal government is not enough.

“Americans must also act at the grassroots and state level. Local anti-Sharia caucuses can press the federal government while taking concrete steps in their own communities,” she said. “State and local Sharia-free caucuses are a practical way to advance that work. When the federal government does not act, states retain both the authority and the responsibility to defend America.”