Lawsuit Seeks To Bar Certification of Oklahoma Vote on Shariah Law

Two days after Oklahoma voters overwhelmingly approved a ballot measure barring state courts from considering or applying Shariah law, the Council on American-Islamic Relations filed a lawsuit seeking to enjoin the State Board of Elections from certifying the election results on the proposed constitutional amendment. The complaint (full text)  in Awad v. Ziriax, (WD OK, filed 11/4/2010), alleges that the amendment enshrines a condemnation of plaintiff's Muslim faith in the state constitution. In support of the injunction plaintiff argues that the Shariah ban violates the Establishment Clause because it has a sectarian purpose and effect. The complaint also asserts that the amendment violates the federal free exercise clause by targeting only one religion. Wall Street Journal reports on the filing of the lawsuit.