http://www.ctpost.com/news/article/Tenn-anti-terror-bill-advances-in-Legisla ture-1352983.php
Tenn. anti-terror bill advances in Legislature LUCAS L. JOHNSON II, Associated Press Updated 08:33 p.m., Tuesday, April 26, 2011 * <http://www.ctpost.com/news/article/Tenn-anti-terror-bill-advances-in-Legisl ature-1352983.php#photo-2> Awadh Binhazim of the Islamic Center in Nashville, Tenn., waves a copy of an anti-terrorism bill after it was approved by the House Judiciary Committee on Tuesday, April 26, 2011. Hundreds came to protest the measure that originally sought to make it a felony to follow some versions of the Islamic code. The measure has since been stripped of any reference to religion, but opponents still call it unnecessary. Photo: Erik Schelzig / AP Awadh Binhazim of the Islamic Center in Nashville, Tenn., waves a copy of an anti-terrorism bill after it was approved by the House Judiciary Committee on Tuesday, April 26, 2011. Hundreds came to protest the measure that originally sought to make it a felony to follow some versions of the Islamic code. The measure has since been stripped of any reference to religion, but opponents still call it unnecessary. Photo: Erik Schelzig / AP Awadh Binhazim of the Islamic Center in Nashville, Tenn., waves a... * <http://www.ctpost.com/news/article/Tenn-anti-terror-bill-advances-in-Legisl ature-1352983.php#photo-3> Opponents of an anti-terrorism bill watch on a monitor in the legislative office complex as Rep. Rick Womick, R-Murfreesboro, discuss the measure in Nashville, Tenn., on Tuesday, April 26, 2011. Hundreds came to the Capitol to protest the measure that originally sought to make it a felony to follow some versions of the Islamic code. The measure has since been stripped of any reference to religion, but opponents say it is still unnecessary. Photo: Erik Schelzig / AP Opponents of an anti-terrorism bill watch on a monitor in the legislative office complex as Rep. Rick Womick, R-Murfreesboro, discuss the measure in Nashville, Tenn., on Tuesday, April 26, 2011. Hundreds came to the Capitol to protest the measure that originally sought to make it a felony to follow some versions of the Islamic code. The measure has since been stripped of any reference to religion, but opponents say it is still unnecessary. Photo: Erik Schelzig / AP Opponents of an anti-terrorism bill watch on a monitor in the... * <http://www.ctpost.com/news/article/Tenn-anti-terror-bill-advances-in-Legisl ature-1352983.php#photo-4> Opponents of an anti-terrorism bill listen to speakers outside the state Capitol in Nashville, Tenn., after the measure was advanced by the House Judiciary Committee on Tuesday, April 26, 2011. Hundreds came to protest the measure that originally sought to make it a felony to follow some versions of the Islamic code. The measure has since been stripped of any reference to religion, but opponents say it is still unnecessary. Photo: Erik Schelzig / AP Opponents of an anti-terrorism bill listen to speakers outside the state Capitol in Nashville, Tenn., after the measure was advanced by the House Judiciary Committee on Tuesday, April 26, 2011. Hundreds came to protest the measure that originally sought to make it a felony to follow some versions of the Islamic code. The measure has since been stripped of any reference to religion, but opponents say it is still unnecessary. Photo: Erik Schelzig / AP Opponents of an anti-terrorism bill listen to speakers outside the... * <http://www.ctpost.com/news/article/Tenn-anti-terror-bill-advances-in-Legisl ature-1352983.php#photo-5> People wait in the rain to clear security at the legislative office complex in Nashville, Tenn., on Tuesday, April 26, 2011. Hundreds came to the Capitol to protest an anti-terrorist bill that originally sought to make it a felony to follow some versions of the Islamic code. The measure has since been stripped of any reference to religion, but opponents say it is still unnecessary. Photo: Erik Schelzig / AP People wait in the rain to clear security at the legislative office complex in Nashville, Tenn., on Tuesday, April 26, 2011. Hundreds came to the Capitol to protest an anti-terrorist bill that originally sought to make it a felony to follow some versions of the Islamic code. The measure has since been stripped of any reference to religion, but opponents say it is still unnecessary. Photo: Erik Schelzig / AP People wait in the rain to clear security at the legislative office... * <http://www.ctpost.com/news/article/Tenn-anti-terror-bill-advances-in-Legisl ature-1352983.php#photo-6> Mohamed Ahmed, adviser for the Islamic Center of Nashville, center, listens to debate over an anti-terrorism bill at the legislative office complex in Nashville, Tenn., on Tuesday, April 26, 2011. Hundreds came to the Capitol to protest the measure that originally sought to make it a felony to follow some versions of the Islamic code. The measure has since been stripped of any reference to religion, but opponents say it is still unnecessary. Photo: Erik Schelzig / AP Mohamed Ahmed, adviser for the Islamic Center of Nashville, center, listens to debate over an anti-terrorism bill at the legislative office complex in Nashville, Tenn., on Tuesday, April 26, 2011. Hundreds came to the Capitol to protest the measure that originally sought to make it a felony to follow some versions of the Islamic code. The measure has since been stripped of any reference to religion, but opponents say it is still unnecessary. Photo: Erik Schelzig / AP Mohamed Ahmed, adviser for the Islamic Center of Nashville, center,... * <http://www.ctpost.com/news/article/Tenn-anti-terror-bill-advances-in-Legisl ature-1352983.php#photo-> Ali Murshid, 80, steps through a metal detector at the state Capitol in Nashville, Tenn., on Tuesday, April 26, 2011. Murshid, of Memphis, was among hundreds of Muslims who came to protest an anti-terrorist bill that originally sought to make it a felony to follow some versions of the Islamic code. The measure has since been stripped of any reference to religion, but opponents say it is still unnecessary. Photo: Erik Schelzig / AP Ali Murshid, 80, steps through a metal detector at the state Capitol in Nashville, Tenn., on Tuesday, April 26, 2011. Murshid, of Memphis, was among hundreds of Muslims who came to protest an anti-terrorist bill that originally sought to make it a felony to follow some versions of the Islamic code. The measure has since been stripped of any reference to religion, but opponents say it is still unnecessary. Photo: Erik Schelzig / AP Ali Murshid, 80, steps through a metal detector at the state... Page 1 of 1 NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - A contentious proposal that would authorize the governor and attorney general to decide whether a person or group is a terrorist organization advanced in the Tennessee Legislature on Tuesday after assurances from the sponsors that the measure does not target Muslims. The legislation passed the Senate Judiciary Committee <http://www.ctpost.com/?controllerName=search&action=search&channel=news&sea rch=1&inlineLink=1&query=%22Senate+Judiciary+Committee%22> 6-3 a few hours after being approved 12-4 in the same committee in the House. Both measures now move on to finance committees in each chamber. The original proposal sought to make it a felony to follow some versions of the Islamic code known as Shariah, but the measure was later amended to strip out any reference to a specific religion. Opponents are concerned some organizations may be unfairly targeted, particularly Muslims. Hundreds of them were at the legislative office complex at the Tennessee Capitol <http://www.ctpost.com/?controllerName=search&action=search&channel=news&sea rch=1&inlineLink=1&query=%22Tennessee+Capitol%22> on Tuesday to show their displeasure for the proposal. At least two overflow rooms were set up in the Legislative Plaza for Muslims to watch the hearing, which was emotional at times. Rep. Eric Watson <http://www.ctpost.com/?controllerName=search&action=search&channel=news&sea rch=1&inlineLink=1&query=%22Eric+Watson%22> , a Cleveland Republican and chairman of the House Judiciary Committee <http://www.ctpost.com/?controllerName=search&action=search&channel=news&sea rch=1&inlineLink=1&query=%22House+Judiciary+Committee%22> , scolded some audience members when they muttered their disapproval during parts of the debate, but later commended the audience for being peaceful. House sponsor Judd Matheny <http://www.ctpost.com/?controllerName=search&action=search&channel=news&sea rch=1&inlineLink=1&query=%22Judd+Matheny%22> , who was criticized last week for having representatives of interfaith groups - including some Muslims - who had come to discuss the proposal removed from his office by state troopers, said the bill "treats everybody equally." "I want to say to the Muslim community this bill is not against you," said the Tullahoma Republican, who serves as speaker pro tempore. Senate sponsor Bill Ketron echoed that sentiment in the Senate Judiciary Committee. "In no way is this intended to prohibit anyone from worshipping their god as they see fit," said the Murfreesboro Republican. In the original proposal, the state's attorney general would have authority to designate an entity a "Shariah organization <http://www.ctpost.com/?controllerName=search&action=search&channel=news&sea rch=1&inlineLink=1&query=%22Shariah+organization%22> " if he finds the group knowingly adheres to Shariah, which the legislation defined as "any rule, precept, instruction, or edict arising directly from the extant rulings of any of the authoritative schools of Islamic jurisprudence of Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi'i, Hanbali, Ja'afariya, or Salafi." Muslims, who said the original measure was too broad, feared it would outlaw central tenets of Islam, such as praying five times a day toward Mecca, abstaining from alcohol or fasting for Ramadan. As amended, the proposal would authorize the governor and attorney general to designate an entity "a domestic terrorist" or "a foreign terrorist organization." Supporters of the bill said that applies to any extremist groups, such as the Ku Klux Klan <http://www.ctpost.com/?controllerName=search&action=search&channel=news&sea rch=1&inlineLink=1&query=%22Ku+Klux+Klan%22> , or even gangs like the "Gangster Disciples." Committee member Rick Womick <http://www.ctpost.com/?controllerName=search&action=search&channel=news&sea rch=1&inlineLink=1&query=%22Rick+Womick%22> , an airline pilot and U.S. Air Force <http://www.ctpost.com/?controllerName=search&action=search&channel=news&sea rch=1&inlineLink=1&query=%22U.S.+Air+Force%22> fighter pilot, said he began studying Islam and Shariah after 9/11, when he was flying a commercial airline the morning of the attacks. He said the legislation is needed. "This bill focuses on prevention," said the Murfreesboro Republican, who became visibly emotional when recalling the events of that day in 2001. "It's about equipping our state and local law enforcement with tools to act before acts of terrorism." Womick also repudiated comments he said were made last week by opponents of the legislation that testified before the same House committee. He said they insinuated that lawmakers who support the bill are no better than those who promote white supremacy or Nazism. "All I did today is repudiate their comments," Womick later told The Associated Press <http://www.ctpost.com/?controllerName=search&action=search&channel=news&sea rch=1&inlineLink=1&query=%22The+Associated+Press%22> . "I didn't appreciate being accused of those things." Critics said an entity - which under the new bill is defined as "an individual" or conspiring by "two or more individuals" - could be unfairly targeted and that the measure lacks adequate due process. "If someone convinces the attorney general that I'm a terrorist, then how do I get out of that," asked Rep. Mike Stewart, D-Nashville. If an entity is deemed a terrorist organization, after seven days it is posted on the secretary of state's website and in newspapers. The bill also would allow the state to investigate the groups and determine if legal action or arrests are warranted. Matheny said the legislation, which mirrors a federal law, actually has more due process than the higher-level statute. For instance, he said there's a seven-day period before the designation takes effect, while it's immediate in the federal law. Before making the designation, he said the governor and attorney general also base their decisions on "factual information given to them by law enforcement." "It only penalizes people who know they're dealing with a terrorist organization and who knowingly support that organization," Matheny said after the vote. Mohamed Ahmed, adviser for the Islamic Center of Nashville <http://www.ctpost.com/?controllerName=search&action=search&channel=news&sea rch=1&inlineLink=1&query=%22Islamic+Center+of+Nashville%22> and one of the main organizers of the Muslims who have been attending the hearings, said the legislation, even though amended, still needs to be withdrawn. "We're not going to give up," he said. "We still have a long way to go." Richard Lambert is a special agent in charge of the Knoxville field office of the FBI. He didn't have a position on the legislation, but he told The Associated Press earlier Tuesday by phone that the agency has a partnership with Muslims in the fight against terrorism. "We view the Muslim community in Knoxville as one of our primary allies countering this threat that we face from violent extremism," he said. Read more: <http://www.ctpost.com/news/article/Tenn-anti-terror-bill-advances-in-Legisl ature-1352983.php#ixzz1KimC9Vq9> http://www.ctpost.com/news/article/Tenn-anti-terror-bill-advances-in-Legisla ture-1352983.php#ixzz1KimC9Vq9 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ -------------------------- Want to discuss this topic? 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