Michigan Republican Sen. Aric Nesbitt introduced a resolution Wednesday that would reaffirm the state Senate’s commitment to the authority of the U.S. Constitution and the Michigan Constitution, while also rejecting the recognition or enforcement of Sharia law in the state’s courts.
The resolution was not brought to a vote by the Senate’s Democratic majority. Instead, it was referred to another committee.
Nesbitt, who is running for governor, later posted a video on X explaining what happened in the Senate. He captioned the video, “The State of Michigan will never recognize, endorse, or enforce Sharia law.”
“The state of Michigan has a compelling interest in shielding its citizens from the imposition of any legal code, ideology, or foreign influence that undermines American principles of constitutional supremacy and individual liberty,” the resolution states.
Nesbitt also framed the issue as a basic question of constitutional authority.
“In America, we have one Constitution and set of laws. It’s shameful that as we approach our Nation’s 250th birthday, Democrats in Michigan aren’t willing to affirm that basic fact,” Nesbitt told the Daily Caller News Foundation.
He added that, if elected governor, he would defend the Constitution and prevent Michigan from recognizing, endorsing or enforcing Sharia law.
The proposal comes as Michigan remains home to one of the largest Muslim populations in the country. Dearborn, Michigan, is widely known as America’s largest Arab-majority city. It is led by Muslim Mayor Abdullah H. Hammoud and is also home to the Islamic Center of America, the largest mosque in the United States.
The Senate Democratic majority did not immediately respond to a request for comment from the Daily Caller News Foundation.
In a Wednesday press release, Nesbitt said the state should not yield any part of its legal system to foreign legal codes or religious laws.
“We are not going to surrender one single inch of our legal system to foreign ideologies, and we are not going to apologize for defending our sovereignty,” Nesbitt said. “We cannot and will not allow our country to be undermined by foreign legal codes that despise American liberty.”
According to a spokesperson from Nesbitt’s office, the resolution was introduced after he repeatedly heard questions and concerns about the issue while traveling around the state.
The resolution says it is meant to reaffirm the protection of fundamental rights for Michigan residents, including safeguards against the use of foreign laws or religious codes in public courts.
It also condemns groups that seek to undermine constitutional protections or use terrorism and violence against people in the United States or Michigan.
Nesbitt is one of several Republicans running in the GOP primary for Michigan governor, scheduled for Aug. 4. His opponents include Rep. John James, former Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox and businessman Perry Johnson.
