Barry Moore, an Alabama state representative, has proposed a bill requiring immigrants entering the United States as religious workers to denounce Sharia law.
Moore announced the proposed legislation, titled the “Crusade Act”, in a post shared on X on Wednesday.
“Sharia law justifies the persecution of religious minorities, restrictions on women, and the elevation of religious law above all,” the US lawmaker wrote.
“This is why I introduced the CRUSADE Act.
“Immigrants entering our nation as religious workers should disavow Sharia and uphold the Constitution.”
According to a statement on his official website, the proposed legislation seeks to amend the EB-4 special immigrant visa category, including the religious worker programme, by requiring applicants to formally reject Sharia law and pledge allegiance to the US Constitution.
The proposal said the bill would also require “covered aliens” applying under the visa category to disavow Sharia law and take an oath to uphold the constitution.
“This legislation will amend the EB-4 special immigrant visa provision, including the religious worker category, to require covered aliens to disavow sharia law and take an oath to uphold the United States Constitution,” the statement reads.
According to Moore, Sharia law is a system that has been used “in parts of the world” to justify the persecution of religious minorities, restrictions on women, punishments for apostasy and blasphemy, and the elevation of religious law above civil law.
“Anyone seeking the privilege of entering the United States as a religious worker should be willing to clearly affirm that the Constitution, not sharia law, is the supreme law of the land,” he added.
Moore said the proposed legislation is aimed at protecting America’s constitutional order and freedoms.
“America is built on the rule of law and the supremacy of the Constitution — not foreign legal systems that conflict with our freedoms and values,” he said.
“The CRUSADE Act makes clear that anyone seeking entry into the United States as a religious worker must affirm their commitment to the Constitution and reject the extremist practices found in sharia law that have been used to justify persecution, violence, and the suppression of basic human rights.
“Religious liberty is one of our nation’s founding principles, but it cannot come at the expense of the constitutional order that protects all Americans.”
The proposed bill comes amid growing criticism of Sharia practice in Nigeria by some US lawmakers, who have alleged that it contributes to religious persecution in the country.
In February, the Supreme Council for Shariah in Nigeria rejected calls by US lawmakers seeking the repeal of Sharia practice in Nigeria.
The council said external pressure would not stop Muslims from practising Sharia, describing it as a constitutionally protected religious framework.
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“No power or authority can arrogantly make Muslims relinquish its practice in response to external pressure, misinformation, or political intimidation,” the council had said.
