TALLAHASSEE – In a move amplifying conservative concerns over foreign legal influences, the Florida House introduced HB 119 on Wednesday, aiming to explicitly prohibit state courts, agencies, and tribunals from enforcing or recognizing Sharia law or any foreign legal system that conflicts with U.S. or Florida constitutional rights. Sponsored by Rep. Hillary Cassel (R-Dania Beach), a former Democrat who switched parties last year, the “No Sharia Act” mirrors a federal bill filed last month by U.S. Rep. Randy Fine (R-Fla.), signaling a coordinated push amid heightened national debates on immigration and cultural integration.
The legislation, filed nearly two years after the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks on Israel, would nullify any judicial ruling, arbitration decision, or contract clause invoking Sharia—Islamic jurisprudence encompassing personal, family, and criminal matters—if it violates core protections like due process, equal protection, or freedom of religion. Cassel, a Broward County representative, framed it as a safeguard for American values: “Florida’s legal system must remain rooted in our Constitution, not imported codes that undermine equality.” The bill heads to committee review in the 2026 session, where GOP majorities—bolstered by recent party switches—position it for swift passage.
Proponents, including Fine, argue it’s essential to counter “creeping foreign influence,” citing isolated cases like a 2011 Oklahoma ruling on Sharia in family disputes. Fine’s federal version, co-sponsored by Texas Rep. Keith Self, targets nationwide courts and has drawn endorsements from pro-Israel groups amid the Gaza conflict. “We won’t become a Muslim nation—Sharia has no place here,” Fine declared, linking it to broader anti-immigration efforts under President Trump.
Critics, including the ACLU of Florida and CAIR-Florida, decry it as fearmongering. “This redundant legislation stigmatizes Muslims and chills religious freedom, as U.S. courts already reject foreign laws conflicting with the Constitution,” said CAIR executive director Ibrahim Hooper. The American Bar Association has long opposed similar “foreign law bans” in over two dozen states as unnecessary, noting existing precedents protect against discriminatory practices.
Florida joins a wave of red states—Alabama, Arizona, Kansas, and others—reinforcing Sharia prohibitions since 2010. With midterms looming and Trump’s deportation agenda in full swing, HB 119 tests cultural fault lines: Preservation of heritage, or veiled prejudice? As hearings approach, the Sunshine State’s stance could echo nationally.
