Congress is getting a religious makeover in January, with at least seven Muslim lawmakers elected to serve in Washington, including Michigan’s Abdul El-Sayed, who will become the nation’s first Muslim U.S. senator. And all seven are Democrats.
El-Sayed joins returning Democratic Reps. Rashida Tlaib of Michigan, Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, André Carson of Indiana and Lateefah Simon of California.
Newcomers Adam Hamawy of New Jersey and Darializa Avila Chevalier of New York complete the seven confirmed election winners.
Their growing presence raises questions about religious influence in government, particularly the relationship between Islamic religious law, commonly called Sharia, and America’s constitutional system.
Certain traditional interpretations of Sharia conflict with constitutional principles, including religious freedom, equal protection and freedom of expression.
Public office requires lawmakers to support the Constitution. The Constitution’s Supremacy Clause leaves little room for confusion. Neither Islamic law, Christian doctrine nor any other religious code can override constitutional protections. But for them, the Constitution and putting America first seem to be little more than inconvenient obstacles to their political agenda.
And when Israel enters the conversation, Tlaib and Omar’s voting records make it look like opposing the Jewish state is practically a congressional job requirement.