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State Bill Muslims Say Targets Them Endorsed By Texas City Council

IRVING, Texas — The City Council in a North Texas city where the mayor has accused mosque leaders of creating separate laws for Muslims has voted to endorse a state bill Muslims say targets their faith.

The Dallas Morning News reports that Muslims packed City Hall in Irving to voice protests Thursday but the council endorsed the bill in a 5-4 vote. Mayor Beth Van Duyne has said imams are “bypassing American courts” by offering mediation.

The bill by State Rep. Jeff Leach would forbid judges from using foreign law in rulings. The bill doesn’t mention religion but Leach has singled out an Islamic mediation panel as a “problem” it will solve.

The Islamic Tribunal, a panel of Dallas-area imams, offers mediation advertised as voluntary, nonbinding and in harmony with the law.

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