Social media was set ablaze over the prospect of a Muslim Mississippi attorney’s appointment to a municipal judge seat.
In one viral post that began with “Red State Mississippi just appointed America’s first Yemeni Sharia-hijabi judge,” the user claimed that immigration attorney Assma Ali had been given the gavel for a local bench. Assumptions quickly ran amok, with some suggesting that Ali had been given a judge position in Ridgeland, where her office is located, and others stating that she had been appointed to a municipal judge seat in Lumberton. Officials who represent both cities quickly quashed those rumors.
“The City of Ridgeland did not appoint Assma Ali to serve as Municipal Court Judge. We currently do not have any new appointments,” an official statement in the comments of an unrelated Facebook post said.
Mississippi State Rep. Jansen Owen added the following for Lumberton: “I’m the City Attorney for Lumberton, MS. Any reports that this person has been appointed judge in our city is FALSE.”
Ali, on Monday, looked to clarify the situation. The attorney, who earned her law degree from Mississippi Christian University, took to Facebook to announce that she had been appointed as a municipal court judge in the Mississippi Delta town of Benoit and was sworn in on Aug. 5. She even provided the town’s meeting agenda and a paper copy of her taking an oath of office, which displayed an approving signature from Benoit Mayor Linda Carter, to prove that she is a judge in Mississippi.
Most of the viral posts about Ali’s alleged appointment came from users who have expressed staunch support for President Donald Trump and espoused ultra-conservative viewpoints, with the acronym “MAGA” (Make America Great Again) being a common theme in their social media bios.
Many users and commenters, alike, took aim at Ali’s garb. The attorney is a practicing Muslim, who wears a hijab, a headscarf that covers the hair, neck, and ears while leaving the face open, for religious purposes.
Additionally, much of the social media buzz about the prospect of her being a judge in Mississippi stemmed from accusations that Ali is a “radical Islamist” with ties to an individual linked to the Muslim Brotherhood, a transnational Sunni Islamist organization that aims to establish governance based on Islamic principles. These users expressed concern that Ali would not rule based on American laws, but would push a religious agenda.
Ali, however, said her allegiance is to the United States and its constitution, along with the laws of Mississippi. She further stated that she would approach her judgeship with fairness and a respect for the law.
“I was born in the United States, and as both an attorney and a judge, I am committed to upholding the United States Constitution and the laws of the State of Mississippi,” Ali wrote on Monday. “I am grateful for the opportunity to serve the people of Benoit and will approach this responsibility with fairness, integrity, impartiality, and respect for the law.”
In Mississippi, municipal judges preside over city courts handling misdemeanor crimes, local ordinance violations, and traffic tickets at the city level. They manage initial appearances, set bonds, issue search or arrest warrants, impose fines or community service, and sometimes perform wedding ceremonies.
