Religious Freedom or a Threat to America? The Debate Explodes in Texas.

A group of Muslims in Texas bought land to build a peaceful community. The state responded by launching criminal investigations before they even broke ground.

Photo by Muhammad Adil on Unsplash

A group of Muslims in Texas wants to establish a community about 40 miles from Dallas, and the state’s government and some nearby residents aren’t having it.

Members of the East Plano Islamic Center (EPIC) argue that they want to establish a city using land they legally purchased to create their own community. They insist that the efforts to use the government to shut them down are based on ignorance and bigotry.

On the other side of the argument, those opposing the endeavor contend that it is being built by a bunch of sneaky Muslims who want to institute Sharia law. Gov. Greg Abbott, Attorney General Ken Paxton, and other officials contend that they are not motivated by bigotry, but by a desire to ensure that religious laws don’t take precedence over state and federal law.

Epic City is a master-planned residential development on slightly over 400 acres. It will include over 1,000 residential units, a mosque, a K-12 faith-based school, a community college, and several commercial facilities.

The governor enlisted several federal agencies to destroy the planned development. He launched several investigations aimed at finding reasons to prevent EPIC from establishing their city — even though they haven’t even gotten close to breaking ground yet.

What’s the Problem?

Those opposing EPIC City argue that it will place Islamic law, otherwise known as Sharia, above Texas and federal law. In countries like Saudi Arabia and Iran, Sharia manifests in strict rules regarding how women can dress, where they can go, and other restrictions. Alcohol is typically forbidden. More brutal forms of Sharia encourage honor killings of women caught sinning and even female circumcision.

However, other Muslims have a more moderate interpretation of Sharia, viewing it as a set of personal spiritual principles to live by. There does not seem to be any one clear-cut interpretation of Sharia, despite what many on the right argue.

In another post on X, Abbott stressed, “All entities in Texas must follow state law, not Sharia law.”

In a statement, Sen. John Cornyn argued that the community “could violate the constitutional rights of Jewish and Christian Texans, by preventing them from living in this new community and discriminating against them within the community.”

However, the developers repeatedly stated that people of all faiths would be welcome in the community.

Is it Really About Sharia Law?

Dan Cogdell, an attorney representing the developers of EPIC City, slammed Gov. Abbott and other Republican officials for deliberately misleading the public about the planned community. During a press conference, Cogdell insisted that opponents are targeting the project because it involves Muslims, according to CBS News.

“To have people who are of a different faith than some folks to be basically terrorized because of false information put out by the governor is an insult,” Cogdell said. “These aren’t foreign adversaries. These are Texans. These are Americans. These are United States citizens.”

After Abbott ordered developers to stop construction, the attorney mockingly responded: “But spoiler alert, they haven’t started construction, and they haven’t even applied for the permits.”

Fawzia Belal from the East Plano Islamic Center also debunked these claims. “[They said] women are oppressed, that women have no voice, that sharia law will take over … it just doesn’t work like that.”

She added, “We don’t even impose it on our own people, let alone on anyone else.”

Belal blamed ignorance and misinformation for those who believe that the community will impose Islamic law and invited people to come and engage with them on the matter.

The Bottom Line

The incessant fearmongering about Muslims trying to take over the country is reminiscent of much of the anti-Muslim propaganda that proliferated in the years after 9/11.

This isn’t to say that there aren’t Muslims who have this objective. Even a cursory glance at what is happening in the UK, Germany, France, and other European nations shows what can happen when the government acquiesces to the radical fringes.

However, the sticking point is that there is absolutely no evidence that these people want to establish a society governed by Sharia law.

Belal is right in her assertion that this belief is motivated chiefly by ignorance and disinformation. I’m not one to cry “bigotry” willy-nilly, but I don’t doubt that at least some of this is motivated by anti-Muslim sentiment.

Others, like Cornyn, were concerned about discrimination against non-Muslims. But here’s the thing: There are already laws against that. They need only to be enforced if the planned city engages in this conduct.

It is also worth asking: If you’re a Christian, would you even want to live in an Islamic community? As a follower of Christ, I certainly wouldn’t. Like most, I’d prefer to live among those who reflect my values and beliefs. This isn’t because I dislike Muslims. It’s simply a matter of personal preference. But I still believe Muslims should have the same liberties as Americans of other religions.

It’s also worth mentioning that Abbott and other government officials are engaging in one of the most brazen displays of government overreach imaginable. Ordering the Texas Rangers to launch a criminal investigation against EPIC without probable cause is more than problematic. Remember when the FBI under former President Joe Biden wanted to do the same to traditional Catholics?

There is no substantive difference.

Moreover, weaponizing state agencies against the project — which hasn’t even started yet — should also give us pause. It is one thing to disagree with a planned development. It is quite another to wield the government against it simply because people do not approve of the religious views of those involved.

If a group of Christians wanted to do the same thing, would Abbott and the gang lift a finger to stop them? Of course they wouldn’t — and they shouldn’t.

Government overreach is wrong regardless of which party is doing it. If we claim we support liberty and limited government, this principle must apply even to people who do not share our political or religious beliefs. When we stand by a let the state target one group of people, it won’t be long before its attention turns against your group.