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Jayapal says House hearing fuels anti-Muslim rhetoric
The hearing was backed by Subcommittee Chairman Chip Roy, who argued that Sharia law threatened American values and constitutional protections.
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Jeffin T. Kaleekal - Thu, 14, May 2026
- 03:35 EDT
- 25
Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal / Wikimedia commons
Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal spoke during a House Judiciary subcommittee hearing over Sharia law and its alleged incompatibility with the U.S. Constitution.
Titled “Sharia-Free America: Why Political Islam & Sharia Law Are Incompatible With the U.S. Constitution: Part II,” the hearing sought to examine how the rise of Sharia law in America poses “serious risks to civil liberties, founding principles, and republican system of government.”
It also discussed how Sharia-based institutions may violate federal law and the Constitution. In addition, the hearing discussed proposed legislative reforms.
Jayapal decried the hearing and said, “These policies are based on a myth that Sharia is infiltrating our American legal system and endangering the way of life as envisioned by our founding fathers.”
She continued, “In many religions, there are extreme and violent sects that don't represent the vast majority of observance of the faith.”
During the hearing, Jayapal also brought up parallels with the “rise of extreme white Christians.” She cited shooting incidents in Charleston, Pittsburgh and San Diego, remarking, “I don't see any of my colleagues on the other side creating a caucus to attack Christianity or introducing a bill that would ban Christians from entering the country.”
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Jayapal termed the hearing a “double standard,” noting that the hearing sought to single out one religion for “special scrutiny” and that the attempt to extrapolate religion-based violence is “somehow what all Muslims believe.”
She added, “When we would never, as Christians, say that, for instance, like the killer at Mother Emanuel AME Church, who claimed that he was there because of his religious beliefs, we wouldn't say that that would extrapolate to all Christians. And so it is a double standard.”
Jayapal took to X and reiterated her questions before the committee. She asked, “Has there ever been legislation introduced in the U.S. to adopt Sharia law?,” “Does Sharia law require Muslims to violate U.S. laws?,” and “Are there any U.S. courts that follow Sharia law?”
Jayapal argued that none of these have ever happened and remarked, “Despite all this, Republicans held another hearing to promote their Islamophobia. Disgusting.”
Has there ever been legislation introduced in the US to adopt Sharia law? No.
— Rep. Pramila Jayapal (@RepJayapal) May 14, 2026
Does Sharia law require Muslims to violate US laws? No.
Are there any US courts that follow Sharia law? No.
Despite all this, Republicans held another hearing to promote their islamophobia. Disgusting. pic.twitter.com/HCYUHTH9jp
The Council on American-Islamic Relations described the hearing as an “anti-Muslim congressional hearing that platforms ‘unhinged bigots’ who seek to expel American Muslims and ban the practice of Islam in the United States.”
The hearing was backed by Subcommittee Chairman Chip Roy. Roy and other Republicans argued that Sharia law threatened American values and constitutional protections.
He noted, “Sharia is not a religious code or belief system. It is a repressive legal regime that betrays America’s founding principles and threatens our Constitution.”
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