Describing the newly-formed Sharia-Free America Caucus, Rep. Brandon Gill (R-Texas) told American Family Radio the main goal of himself and other GOP lawmakers is to ban Sharia law in the U.S.
“I think that’s about as basic, and commonsense, as it gets,” Gill told show host Jenna Ellis.
The controversial congressional caucus, which launched in December, was started by two Republican congressmen from Texas, Keith Self and Chip Roy. It now includes 30-plus members, representing 18 U.S. states, who support passage of the Preserving a Sharia-Free America Act authored by Rep. Roy.
In Gill’s own state, a Muslim imam likely helped Gill and other GOP lawmakers court new caucus members. That’s because the imam, Qasim ibn Ali Khan, harassed Muslim store owners in Houston over the products they sell. The products, such as alcohol and pork, are considered “haram” in Islam.
In a related move, Gov. Greg Abbott signed House Bill 4211 into law last fall that bans residential developments from implementing Sharia-compliant communities. He took action after the planned East Plano Islamic Center -- EPIC City -- development northeast of Dallas.
Supporters of the caucus say Sharia represents a threat to national identity, citing concerns over immigration, cultural assimilation and national security.
They reference developments like EPIC City —a project they describe as a Sharia-only compound—as evidence of growing ideological infiltration.
Critics, including civil rights groups like the ACLU, argue that such measures are unnecessary and discriminatory. They war that banning religious legal principles could infringe on First Amendment rights, as religious individuals of all faiths may reference religious law in personal matters like wills or arbitration.
Gill told Ellis the caucus recognizes that Islam is not just a religious faith but a political ideology, too. That means that form of Islam is not compatible with core constitutional issues, such as freedom of speech and freedom of religion.
“I mean, these are core constitutional principles that undergird our entire Western civilization,” Gill stressed. “We just don’t align with political Islam in these matters and many others. That’s what people are concerned with.”
The controversy over Sharia law is a campaign issue for a Texas congressional candidate, Abteen Vaziri. An Iranian-born Christian, he is currently in a Republican primary for the 32nd District and has made an anti-Sharia stance part of his campaign.
“As someone whose entire family is Muslim, I’m not down with Sharia law,” Vaziri, speaking at a candidate forum, recently told a room of Muslims.
Gill, who was elected to Congress last year, represents the 26th District that includes Denton, Wise, Tarrant, and Cookie counties in North Texas.
He told the AFR program his constituents vocally oppose the explosion of Islam in and around his congressional district, which is located north of what is called the Dallas-Ft. Worth Metroplex.
“They love this country the way it is,” he said. “One of the biggest concerns that I hear from constituents is Islam. It is the Islamization of North Texas.”
The growth of Islam in Texas, and the mosques being built all over the state, Gill said, are why the caucus is also not running from the issue of immigration.
“We’ve got to recognize the basic truth that not all cultures are equal,” Gill argued. “They're not all equally good. Not all belief systems are equally good.”
Aware of Somali-linked fraud uncovered in Minnesota, Gill himself has introduced legislation to ban future immigration from Somalia after it was learned Somalis have stolen billions from American taxpayers.
