OKLAHOMA CITY, Nov. 9 (UPI) -- Muslim leaders in Oklahoma say an amendment that bans state courts from using Sharia law has spurred an uptick in hate mail.
Sharia law is derived from the Koran and the traditions of Islam.
Muslim leaders told The Oklahoman their e-mail boxes began filling with often obscene messages before the Nov. 2 election and has continued since the amendment was approved by voters last week. Muneer Awad, executive director of the Council on Inter-American Relations, said he gave the FBI a DVD he received that included pictures of guns.
Awad was granted a temporary restraining order Monday that bans the state from enforcing the amendment. A federal judge scheduled another hearing in two weeks.
"We have seen a steady increase of hate in our places of worship," Awad said.
Awad said he hopes to meet with state Rep. Rex Duncan and state Sen. Anthony Sykes, Republicans involved in writing the amendment.
While the U.S. Constitution bars laws that favor particular religions, many religions have their own laws governing matters like marriage, divorce, title to church property and disputes between co-religionists. These sometimes become the subject of civil litigation.
