FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 1, 2011
CONTACT: Hedy Weinberg, ACLU-TN Executive Director, (615) 320-7142
NASHVILLE – The American Civil Liberties Union of Tennessee (ACLU-TN) today released a statement condemning the recently-filed SB 1028/HB 1353 as a gross mischaracterization of an entire religious belief system – Islam– that is also unnecessary because the federal government already has the tools it needs to keep Americans safe.
“America is a nation that embraces freedom of religion, fairness and tolerance. Questioning an entire religious community’s loyalty to the United States is misguided, counter-productive and discriminatory, striking at the very heart of our core American values,” said Hedy Weinberg, ACLU-TN Executive Director.
The bill would give the Tennessee Attorney General extraordinary discretion to unconstitutionally designate U.S. organizations as “sharia organizations” without notice, probable cause, or a meaningful opportunity for them to defend themselves. In allowing the Tennessee Attorney General to designate so-called “sharia organizations” if they are involved in “acts of terrorism,” the bill uses a definition of terrorism so broad that even peaceful groups engaging in non-violent demonstrations could potentially be branded as terrorists.
Though the bill claims not to target “the peaceful practice of any religion, and in particular, the practice of Islam by its adherent,” it provides that the beliefs of every major school of Islam automatically constitute “Sharia” as defined in the bill. In doing so, the bill not only breeds intolerance, it improperly entangles the government with religious doctrine. The First Amendment prohibits the government from taking positions on religious doctrine or dictating what one group’s religious beliefs are or mean.
“This bill exacerbates an already unfounded fear of and anger toward members of the Muslim community in the name of public safety when there is absolutely no need to do so. Federal laws are already broad enough to reach anyone who poses a real threat or has even a remote connection to terrorism,” Weinberg continued. “Establishing a parallel state scheme targeting Muslim organizations could not only conflict with the federal government’s efforts, it is an egregious and illegal form of profiling against an entire faith.”
ACLU-TN’s entire statement opposing SB 1028/HB 1353 can be found here.