Some New York City residents were shocked last week to see vehicles with the words “Muslim Community Patrol” emblazoned on them cruising the streets like police squad cars.

The sight of the vehicles immediately led to concerns about “creeping Sharia.”

Look:

Muslim #Patrol Car has been

spotted in Brooklyn New York pic.twitter.com/EcrohZkNZq — AlwaysActions (@AlwaysActions) December 29, 2018

This is called “creeping sharia” and stupid Americans will refuse to see it for what it is. Our great grandchildren will be speaking Arabic & praying to mecca if we don’t get serious ?? — Ariel? (@Belle_Vivant) December 29, 2018

Forerunner to sharia street law,,,, you know it,, — CHRIS (@DONNYFREEBIRD) December 30, 2018

Really? How’s that work. So Sharia is allowed in Brooklyn NY. So personal property (according to muslims and their holy book of extreme violence the koran) this will be no big deal and women in Brooklyn better shut the hell up and obey their owners. Are ownership titles issued? pic.twitter.com/KIyUws4Muz — chillywillee1?️ (@chillywillee1) December 30, 2018

Sharia Patrol, more like it! — Freyja ⌛ ⚖️ ⭐⭐⭐ (@HighUpNorse) December 30, 2018

Code for Sharia Law patrol. — Robert Alvarez (@urhelped) December 30, 2018

1) To harass and threaten apostates

2) Extra-judicial authority to enforce sharia, whether or not Muslims in question want it — pfrontis (@pfrontis1) December 30, 2018

Sharia law enforcement — Bill George (@BillGeo12099477) December 29, 2018

These tweets reflect a belief among some Americans that the Muslim community wants to usurp America’s constitutionally based system of law and replace it with that of Sharia, a religious law derived from the religious precepts of the Islamic religion.

While these fears may sound outlandish, they stem from actual examples of Sharia being practiced in the United States. A perfect example of this occurred in 2010, when a federal judge appointed by former Democrat President Bill Clinton ruled that it was unconstitutional for Oklahoma to bar state courts from considering the application of Sharia law in their rulings.

Another example happened just last year, when a Minnesota Muslim man intent on imposing Sharia law in his local community reportedly began patrolling his neighborhood and confronting anyone who dared to violate Islam’s strict rules and dress codes.

At the time local authorities received reports about a mob of Muslim men walking around with uniforms that read “Muslim Defense Force” and “Religious Police.”

Red flags go up in Minn. community when ‘Sharia vigilante’ starts patrolling streets like a cop https://t.co/6FyXw7GtOb pic.twitter.com/1tbikG586A — Conservative News (@BIZPACReview) April 15, 2017

According to the New York Post there’s no reason for locals to fret over worries about “creeping Sharia.”

HERE’S WHAT YOU’RE MISSING …

“A car from the new Muslim Community Patrol has been spotted around the city, joining the Jewish enclave’s Shomrim and the Brooklyn Asian Safety Patrol among New York’s culture-specific security groups,” the Post reported last week.

It turns out that other racial and religious groups in the 8.623 million people-strong city boast their own patrol groups. According to locals on social media, these groups lack the authority to stop and detain suspects. Instead, they function as nothing more than community watchmen.

Look:

Members are trained by the NYPD, but they do not have the authority to stop and detain people. If they see something, they call 911 or the precinct’s desk sergeant. — Marty (@Martyray59) December 30, 2018

They are not enforcing laws, but rather acting as a community neighborhood watch that coordinates with NYPD, just like the Hasidic Shomrin and the Asian Safety patrol. Visit NYC (not the tourist spots), and you might better understand how diverse communities thrive. — James Burger (@burgerphoto) December 30, 2018

There is an Asian patrol one also. It’s private neighborhood security patrol. Aren’t there much larger issues to focus on then constantly creating ones just to stir things up? — Patricia Greene (@peagreenenola) December 30, 2018

Those were valid observations. Many communities across the states have their own security units. And since NYC communities are indeed often segregated, it’s not shocking to observe Jewish-, Asian- or Muslim-specific security groups patrolling their respective communities.

But is it really necessary, though? Not everybody thinks so.

Look:

can we have a Catholic patrol car, a Protestant control car, a Baptist control car a Jehovah witness control car a Jewish control car and an atheist control car. Have I covered everything? This is ridiculous — Dottie Joyner (@DottieJoyner1) December 29, 2018

Can we have a Christian Community Patrol? — ???? (@QueenKristine87) December 30, 2018

Wtf is that. Patrol? Patrol for what? Disgusting. Would a White patrol car be acceptable? Or how bout a halvsie patrol car. All we need are police patrol cars plain and simple! — Rich Asher (@Bramble015) December 29, 2018

I have to ask… why does it have to be specific to include the name “Muslim” unless to provoke or intimidate people? NY faced a horrible attack at the hand of radical Muslims as we all know… this seems to be an “in your face” disrespect for those who lost loved ones that day. — Rena’ (@Rena_OConnor) December 30, 2018

Also valid points.

HERE’S WHAT YOU’RE MISSING …