NJ Lawmaker Withdraws “Foreign Law” Bill

A New Jersey state lawmaker has withdrawn a bill after complaints from Muslim leaders that it could be viewed as anti-Muslim.

Assemblywoman Holly Schepisi says her legislation was intended to prohibit the application of foreign laws when they violate constitutional rights.

But Aref Assaf of the American Arab Forum says bills with similar language have been promoted as anti-Islamic legislation around the country. Schepisi, a Republican representing Bergen and Passaic counties, says she never intended the measure to be anti-Muslim.

She plans to rework the language. She says she wants to provide legal clarity in cases where foreign laws intersect with New Jersey laws, such as in international custody battles.

Schepisi says the bill as drafted could have been misinterpreted in the current political climate.

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