Rep. Keith Self, R-Texas, told Newsmax on Wednesday that the newly formed Sharia Free America Caucus is rapidly growing as lawmakers sound the alarm on what he calls the expanding influence of Sharia law in the United States.
Self, appearing on "National Report," said the caucus — launched Dec. 18 with Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas — has already gained significant traction.
"First of all, we now have 33 members across 18 states," Self said. "And I will tell you, we see our duty as to educate, first of all, our colleagues in Congress, then the American people, and then to pass legislation on the danger of Sharia that is not creeping across America, it seems to be roaring across America."
According to Self, Texas has become a focal point for the issue, motivating the creation of the caucus.
"North Texas is ground zero of this invasion of Sharia. That's why Chip Roy and I, two Texans, started this caucus," he said. "This is going to be an important caucus because we must alert our citizens to this, this legal system that is actually incompatible with the U.S. Constitution."
Self argued that Sharia law fundamentally conflicts with American principles of individual liberty and constitutional governance.
"Islam is not a religion. It is a way of life. So Sharia is submission to Islam," he said. "Our system, our laws, our culture, our heritage is built on individual freedoms."
He contrasted the U.S. legal system with what he described as the structure of Sharia.
"The Bill of Rights is very familiar, but all of our laws give individuals rights under the judicial system, under culture," Self said. "Sharia is the opposite. It is submission to this very strict legal code."
Self also claimed that those who adhere to Sharia represent a threat to American culture and constitutional order.
"Moderate Muslims, secular Muslims, they are the outliers," he said. "The people who follow Sharia are the ones that chant 'Death to America,' that want to change our culture into an Islamic culture. It is antithetical to the U.S. Constitution."
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Mark Swanson ✉
Mark Swanson, a Newsmax writer and editor, has nearly three decades of experience covering news, culture and politics.
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