Author Of Sharia Law Ban Slams Federal Judge

Staff and Wire Reports

OKLAHOMA CITY -- The state legislator who authored Oklahoma's ban on the use of Islamic law and other international tenets in state courtrooms says the "liberal, activist judge" who ruled against his plan in federal court is the kind of judge he was hoping to stop.

Former state Rep. Rex Duncan made the comments on Tuesday, a day after U.S. District Judge Vicki Miles-LaGrange granted a preliminary injunction to prevent the state from certifying the results of the Nov. 2 election. More than 70 percent of voters approved State Question 755, which would place the ban into the state constitution.

A Muslim man living in Oklahoma has sued to block the ban from taking effect, arguing it is an unconstitutional message of government "hostility toward his religious beliefs."

Also on Tuesday, the Oklahoma State Election Board voted to ask the attorney general to appeal the court's granting of a preliminary injunction. A spokesperson from the A.G.'s office said an appeal is likely.

Duncan, who stepped down from his House post to run for district attorney in Pawnee and Osage counties, said he sponsored the measure because he thinks Muslim rights groups such as the Council on American-Islamic Relations want to hijack the country's legal system.