Rep. Steve King on Muslim Refugees: 'They Bring With Them Shariah Law ... It's Incompatible With Americanism'

Iowa Congressman Steve King (R) and MSNBC "All In" host Chris Hayes went toe to toe Tuesday night over King's views on Muslim assimilation in the United States, particularly refugees from Middle Eastern Muslim countries.

Invoking comments King made earlier in the day on Muslim assimilation, Hayes asked King if his position on the topic was defensible.

"You said, 'No one has shown me an example of people from that part of the world that have assimilated into the broader society,'" Hayes said. "Can you really defend that statement?"

King answered, clarifying his comments to say that he was referring to groups of people, not individuals. The Iowa Republican also invoked areas like "little Mogadishu" in Minneapolis, an area known for the large population of Somalis, as places where assimilation has not happened.

When asked by Hayes if he really believes that Muslim refugee groups are "different in some fundamental way" from other cultural areas in America, including Chinatown and Little Italy in New York, King answered in the affirmative.

"Of course I do," King replied. "They bring with them Shariah law, which is completely contradictory to the Constitution. It's incompatible with Americanism."

Hayes shot back, "Do you think, fundamentally, Muslims from the Middle East are incompatible with American democracy?"

"I think, if they’re willing to reject Shariah law, then we can talk," King responded. "But until they do that, their view of Shariah law trumping constitutional law is incompatible with Americanism, and eventually, [it] will break down the rule of law in our country."

(H/T: Mediaite)

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