The issue of equality drives more than 100 religious activists to the state Capitol for first ever Muslim Day

Intro:	More than 100 people participated in the first-ever Muslim Day at the state Capitol on Wednesday. Supporters spoke about equality and freedom of political participation for all.
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Wrap: United Voices for America President Ahmed Bedier (Bed-eer)spoke to an audience including Muslims, Jews and Christians of all ages.

He says many Muslims are immigrants and haven't been involved in the legislative process.

Bedier (Bed-eer) says organizing a trip to the state Capitol is a positive way to normalize relations with legislators and government.

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Description: "You own this house because your taxes pay for this house. And, the people who work here, you don't work for them, they work for you. So when you go there and talk to them, you're talking as their boss because you put them in office and you can easily remove them from office."

Bedier says Muslim-Americans abide by religious laws within the legal limits of American law.

Republican Representative Don Wells sponsors a bill that reiterates that American law supersedes any foreign law in American courts.

His bill specifically singles out Sharia Law, a religious moral code in Islam.

From Jefferson City, I'm Kyle Tons.

Intro:	Members at the first-ever Muslim Day at the state Capitol on Wednesday shared their thoughts about a bill that restates how foreign laws should be interpreted in the courts.
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Wrap: More than 100 members of the American Civil Liberties Union gathered on the state Capitol's steps.

They discussed one issue stemming from Republican Representative Don Wells's bill to reiterate American law as the ultimate authority in courts.

The bill states courts should not consider foreign law, just American law.

The bill highlights Islamic Sharia Law in particular.

United Voices for America President Ahmed Bedier (Bed-eer) spoke to members at the A-C-L-U conference and says many lawmakers are making these types of laws based on stereotypes.

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Description: "A lot of times these lawmakers have never even met a Muslim. The only Muslim they know is Bin Laden and the only Muslims they see are on television, so that's hard to wrap your head around what that culture is; what that religion is if you don't really know."

Bedier (Bed-eer) says the Muslim Day at the state Capitol is a great way to normalize relations with legislators and government.

From Jefferson City, I'm Kyle Tons.

Intro:	Seven-year-old Yusuf (You-sif) Hacking made his first trip to the state Capitol Wednesday for the first-ever Muslim Day.
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Wrap: Hacking is one of the many Muslims who stood on the state Capitol's steps and listened to speakers talk about religious equality.

He says equality is a good thing because...

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Description: "...you treat everyone with fairness."

Republican Representative Don Wells sponsors a bill that reiterates that in American courts, no foreign law should supersede American law.

His bill singles out Sharia Law, the Islamic law based on the Koran.

United Voices for America President Ahmed Bedier (Bed-eer) says that this bill is not necessary because Muslims in America have taken the American oath of the land.

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Description: "If there's ever a conflict between the U.S. Constitution and Islamic law or Sharia Law, then because we took that oath, then we have to go with the laws of the land. So, wherever that is, we follow the laws of the land."

Bedier (Bed-eer) says joining members of different religions at the Capitol is a great way to encourage more political participation.

From Jefferson City, I'm Kyle Tons.