Islamic Group Calls for Use of Koran to Take Oath

An Islamic civil rights and advocacy group is calling on North Carolina judges to allow people to use the Koran when taking an oath, saying the use of the Bible exclusively represents “an inappropriate state endorsement of religion.”

The request by the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) comes after Guilford County judges said they would not allow use of Korans in their courtrooms.

“An oath of the Koran is not a lawful oath under our law,” said W. Douglas Albright, Guilford’s senior resident Superior Court judge. According to state law, swearing an oath constitutes putting one’s hand on the “Holy Scriptures.”

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