Ann Carlson

Sharia literally means "a path to water" and is the set of instructions that primarily concern a Muslim with how to live an ethical and moral life. It is not fixed in time or place and varies widely across different Islamic interpretations. To ban public institution's "deference" to Sharia law is essentially to ban Islam from the realm of public life -- akin to banning "deference" for Christ's teachings or deference to Jewish Halakha. They are all, first and foremost, a way of life for followers of the respective traditions, and all have widely varying understandings and implementation within their respective religious communities. Prominent in the traditions of all three is respect for the the rights of the "other" within their communities. The US policy has always been -- and should continue to be -- to defer to religious communities to govern themselves insofar as their religious laws do not actually conflict with or violate US law. Nor is "political Islam" any different that "political Christianity" or "political Judaism," and again, none is monolithic. They are simply the attempts of religious individuals and communities to express their beliefs and convictions through their actions in the public sphere -- a right guaranteed by the Constitution. In no way is Islam or Sharia an existential threat to the state or country, any more than is Christianity or Judaism. This proposed law is simply anti-Islamic and encourages Islamophobia as well as hostile acts towards the Muslim community. As a Christian, I am ashamed for New Hampshire that such a bill has even been proposed for consideration.