First Muslim Judge Who Was Recently Sworn In Faces Backlash as Critics Give the Same Reason Why They Want Her Removed From the Bench

A Mississippi town has appointed its first Muslim municipal judge, but what should have been a historic moment quickly became the centre of a heated argument online.

Assma Ali was sworn in as a municipal judge for the City of Benoit on August 5. Benoit is a very small town with only a few hundred residents. Before becoming a judge, Ali worked as an immigration lawyer in Mississippi and also started her own law practice.

After taking the oath of office, Ali responded to concerns about how she would carry out her new role. She said she was born in the United States and that, both as a lawyer and a judge, she is committed to following the US Constitution and the laws of Mississippi.

She said she was thankful for the opportunity to serve the people of Benoit and promised to carry out her duties fairly, honestly and without favouring anyone.

However, her appointment soon attracted strong reactions on social media. While some people congratulated her, others questioned whether her Muslim faith could influence the decisions she makes in court. Some critics claimed she might try to introduce or follow Sharia law.

One of the strongest critics has been Republican Mississippi State Senator Michael McLendon. He questioned why other politicians and state leaders had not spoken publicly about Ali’s appointment. He also called for Sharia law to be banned and later urged officials in Benoit to hold a special meeting to remove Ali from the position.

McLendon also said he did not want Mississippi to become like Dearborn, Michigan, a city known for having a large Muslim population.

Ali strongly rejected the claims being made against her. She said her decisions in court would be based only on the US Constitution and Mississippi law.

She made it clear that she would not introduce Sharia law into her courtroom and said it would have no place in the decisions she makes as a judge.

Ali said she wants to focus on doing her job properly instead of becoming involved in arguments online. She said she takes the responsibility seriously and wants people to judge her by the work she does.

Other conservative figures also criticised the appointment. Amy Mekelburg, founder of the conservative RAIR Foundation, attacked Ali’s background and connections. Andy Gipson, Mississippi’s Republican Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce and a candidate for governor in 2027, also spoke about preventing Sharia law from influencing the state.

However, Mississippi already has legislation restricting courts from applying foreign laws when doing so would violate rights protected under Mississippi or US law. The US Constitution also protects religious freedom and prohibits religious tests for public office.

Sahar Aziz, a law professor at Rutgers University, criticised the suggestion that Ali’s religion automatically meant she would try to impose Islamic law. She argued that simply being Muslim does not mean a judge will ignore American law or force religious beliefs on people appearing before the court.

Benoit Mayor Linda Carter also pointed to Mississippi’s Constitution, which says a person’s religious beliefs cannot be used as a test for holding public office.

Ali said the controversy has gone beyond political criticism and that she has received threats since being appointed. She described the situation as upsetting and said she never expected to experience such treatment as an American.

She questioned why being Muslim should make people believe she is not qualified to serve as a judge. Ali repeated that there is only one legal system she intends to follow in her courtroom: the Constitution and the laws she is required to enforce.

Because of the amount of abuse and criticism she has received online, Ali decided to temporarily step away from social media.

Despite the controversy, she said her main priority has not changed. She plans to concentrate on serving the local community, respecting the Constitution and carrying out the responsibilities of her new position.

The debate surrounding her appointment is continuing, with critics demanding action while Ali insists that her religion will not determine how she handles cases in court.