Montana Legislature set to pass anti-Sharia law bill

HELENA – The Montana Legislature is poised to pass a bill to ban Sharia and other foreign laws from being used in courtrooms in the state.

The state House endorsed the measure 56-44 on Monday. It must pass a final vote before it goes to Democratic Gov. Steve Bullock.

The bill does not mention Sharia law, which is used in some parts of the Islamic world, but says that state judges may not apply foreign laws in their courtrooms.

Opponents say the bill targets Muslims, and the only reason Sharia law is not mentioned is because similar legislation in other states that specifically sought Sharia law bans have been ruled unconstitutional.

Republican Rep. Brad Tschida of Missoula says the bill is only meant to uphold the state and U.S. constitutions, and to call it xenophobic is insulting.