Religious and political temperatures rose Wednesday on the eve of a Senate vote on "anti-Sharia" legislation.
Muslim groups, joined by an array of religious leaders, condemned the distribution of literature criticizing Islamic law. One of the pieces, a pamphlet titled "Shari'ah Law: Radical Islam's Threat to the U.S. Constitution, was circulated by Sen. Alan Hays, sponsor of Senate Bill 1360.
Crying "sedition," one flier stated: "Our religious, political and peaceful way of life is under attack by Islam and Sharia law." The one-page leaflet was produced by a group called Students for the Constitution.
Hassan Shibly, director of the Florida chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, said, "Within 24 hours the Florida House passed a bill to allow student-led prayer in public schools, and yet another to attack Islam and Muslims."
Shibly labeled Hays' counterpart to Rep. Larry Metz's HB 1209 "a step toward demonizing Islam and marginalizing Muslims."
The measure, which would restrict foreign laws from being used in Florida courts, was also assailed by the Rev. Russell Meyer of the Florida Council of Churches, Apostolic Catholic Church Bishop Chuck Leigh and the Rev. Bernice Powell Jackson of the First United Church of Tampa.
An attack on one religion is an attack on all," Meyer asserted.
A delegation led by Ahmed Bedier, president of United Voices for America, met with the chief of staff of Senate President Mike Haridopolos to press its concerns.
Bedier asked Senate leadership to investigate what he called "a racist campaign of hatred and fear-mongering." He said there should be no vote until an investigation was concluded.
The group got a sympathetic ear, but no commitments for a postponement of SB 1360, which is scheduled for a floor vote Thursday.
Sen. Nan Rich, the Democrats' Senate minority leader, pledged to speak out against the bill if it comes up for debate.
Other Democrats -- notably Arthenia Joyner and Chris Smith -- and the American Civil Liberties Union also oppose the legislation.
Laila Abdelaziz of Emerge USA, another Muslim group, also assailed the bill.
If Hays' measure passes, as appears likely, CAIR says it will ask Gov. Rick Scott to veto it. Failing that, Shibly said his group is preparing to challenge it on constitutional grounds.
David Yerushalmi, who has authored similar legislation in other states, dismisses complaints that Florida's bill infringes on religious freedoms.
"Is CAIR arguing that a Florida state court should enforce a foreign law that violates fundamental constitutional liberties?" asked Yerushalmi, legal counsel at the Washington, D.C.-based Center for Security Policy and author of "American Laws for American Courts."
Hays, R-Umatilla, called the "Shari'ah Law" pamphlet "a factual booklet that's not anti-anything."
Published by the Center for Law and Justice, "it compares Islamic law with American law," the senator related.
Hays said he was not familiar with any other fliers that may be circulating, but when Sunshine State News read excerpts of the Students for the Constitution leaflet, he said, "It sounds pretty accurate."
Speaking about the critics of his bill, Hays asked, "Do these people not understand the foundation of our Constitution and freedom of speech? Where have they been?"
As for the bill itself, Hays said, "I would invite anyone to find any reference to any religion in it. You won't find it."
Contact Kenric Ward at kward@sunshinestatenews.com or at (772) 801-5341.
