The Kansas Senate has passed a bill in the State Legislature to prevent Kansas courts or government agencies from making decisions based on Islamic or other foreign legal codes.

The lawmakers in Kansas approved the bill following a contentious debate on whether the measure upholds American values or appeals to prejudice against Muslims.

The bill, approved by the Senate on a 33-3 vote, doesn't specifically mention Shariah law, which broadly refers to codes within the Islamic legal system.

Instead, it says that courts, administrative agencies or state tribunals can't base rulings on any foreign law or legal system that would not grant the parties the same rights guaranteed by state and U.S. constitutions.

Susan Wagle, a Wichita Republican, debated the bill in the Senate, saying that a vote for the legislation is a vote to protect women.

"In this great country of ours and in the state of Kansas, women have equal rights. They stone women to death in countries that have Shariah law," CBS News quoted Wagle, as saying.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations and the National Conference of State Legislatures both claimed that anti-Shariah proposals have been considered in 20 states, including Kansas. (ANI)