Paul to Hannity: Stop with your Sharia
By: Andy Barr
April 25, 2011 10:38 PM EDT

Ron Paul on Monday night dismissed Sean Hannity’s fear that Sharia law is coming to the United States.

In a somewhat contentious interview with the Fox News host, Paul asserted that Hannity’s perspective on American relations with the Muslim world is far from reality. Discussing the run-up to the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, Paul told a perturbed Hannity that “the 9/11 Commission recognized there was a blow back phenomenon from the fact we were over there and had a base in Saudi Arabia.”

Hannity then shot back with the concern — often floated by conservative talkers like Glenn Beck — that Islamic leaders are seeing to created a new, worldwide caliphate.

“If they were at war with us for a decade, do you not agree there is a desire among Islamic extremists to have an Islamic caliphate, Sharia law?” an incensed Hannity asked.

“I think because we are over there, their numbers grow,” Paul responded. “You have radicals in all religions, if there is some way to incite them, their numbers will grow.”

The two revisited their fight over Sharia when Hannity needled Paul for defending the Imam who wanted to set up a near Ground Zero in New York.

“You are not concerned about the families of 9/11 and what happened?” Hannity asked.

“This means you blame the religion, you don't want to blame the religion,” Paul responded. “The principle here is a private property principle. We shouldn't have governments building buildings and telling people where to build. It should be a private property issue.”