In a swift-moving late-night session, the Alabama Legislature approved a bill that will put a Constitutional amendment in the hands of the voters.
If passed, the amendment would prohibit the state from recognizing laws of other states in making legal decisions if they violate the public policy of Alabama. Further, it would prohibit applying foreign law in violation of the rights of citizens.
Previous versions of the bill failed. This time around, there was no direct mention of Shariah law, but legislators were aware of prior attempts by sponsor Sen. Gerald Allen, a Republican from Cottondale, to ban the use of Islamic law in Alabama courts.
The House, under pressure to act on local legislation in the last minutes of the Session, heard no discussion of the bill.