Barry Moore, a member of the United States Congress, has proposed a new bill that would require religious immigrants entering the country to formally renounce Sharia law and pledge loyalty to the US Constitution.
The lawmaker disclosed this in a post shared on X on Wednesday while announcing the introduction of the proposed legislation, known as the “CRUSADE Act.”
According to Moore, the bill is intended to prevent the spread of religious doctrines he believes conflict with American constitutional principles.
“Sharia law justifies the persecution of religious minorities, restrictions on women, and the elevation of religious law above all. This is why I introduced the CRUSADE Act,” he said.
He added that immigrants seeking entry into the United States as religious workers should openly reject Sharia law and affirm their commitment to the US Constitution.
Sharia law, which is based on Islamic religious teachings, is practised in different forms across several Muslim-majority countries and communities around the world.
The proposal is already drawing attention because the United States Constitution guarantees freedom of religion under the First Amendment, while immigration policies involving religious workers are regulated through federal immigration laws and visa guidelines.
The development comes amid growing debates in the US over immigration, religious freedom and national security ahead of the country’s next election cycle.
