Texas Governor Greg Abbott just deployed a dozen state agencies to shut down a 402-acre “Islamic city” development that critics fear could become America’s first Sharia law enclave.
At a Glance
- Governor Abbott ordered investigations into “EPIC City,” a proposed Islamic-focused settlement in East Plano, Texas
- The development planned 1,000+ homes, a mosque, Islamic schools, and shopping centers on 402 acres
- Abbott cited concerns about Sharia law implementation and lack of required permits
- Developers deny Sharia intentions, claim Abbott is spreading misinformation and engaging in religious discrimination
- The project has sparked heated debate about religious freedom versus constitutional values in Texas
Abbott Launches Multi-Agency Crackdown on Islamic Development
Governor Greg Abbott isn’t mincing words about his opposition to the controversial “EPIC City” development planned near East Plano. Acting with the full force of state authority, Abbott has sicced a dozen state agencies and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton on the East Plano Islamic Center’s plans, effectively halting what would have been a sprawling Islamic-focused settlement spanning portions of Collin and Hunt counties. Abbott made his position crystal clear: there will be no Sharia law, no Islamic “no-go zones” established within Texas borders on his watch.
“The proposed EPIC compound in Collin Co. has serious legal issues. A dozen state agencies are investigating it, the Attorney General will look into it, and legislators are considering laws to restrict it, as well as laws to prevent foreign adversaries from buying land in Texas,” says Texas Governor Greg Abbott.
The immediate pretext for Abbott’s intervention appears to be what he describes as permit violations. According to the governor, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality determined that the developers failed to submit required permits before beginning construction. Abbott has demanded confirmation within seven days that all work on the “illegal project” will cease or face “the full weight of the law.” What’s particularly telling is that developers claim no actual construction has even begun – they’re still in the fundraising phase.
Islamic “City Within a City” or Inclusive Community?
The East Plano Islamic Center’s vision for “EPIC City” reads like a self-contained Islamic community dropped into the heart of Texas. Plans included over 1,000 homes, a massive mosque, Islamic schools, a community college, sports facilities, and commercial areas – all on a 402-acre site. While developers insist the community would be “well-integrated” and inclusive, local residents and state officials have raised alarm bells about what the development might truly represent.
“To be clear, Sharia law is not allowed in Texas. Nor are Sharia cities. Nor are ‘no-go zones’ which this project seems to imply,” again, Abbott.
Community Capital Partners, managing the project, has attempted to downplay concerns by promising adherence to the Fair Housing Act and insisting there would be no discrimination based on religion. But the sheer scale and focus of the development – clearly intended to create a concentrated Muslim population – has raised legitimate questions about whether this would function as a parallel society within Texas rather than a truly integrated community.
Dear Governor Abbott,
I want to personally thank you for your stance. Every American should be deeply concerned about its clear implications for Sharia governance in Texas.
I have been relentlessly investigating this project and documenting my findings, which I will be…
— Amy Mek (@AmyMek) February 24, 2025
Developers Cry Discrimination, Hire Legal Defense
EPIC City developers have gone on the offensive, hiring attorney Dan Cogdell to counter what they characterize as the governor’s “false information” campaign. Cogdell has taken a predictable approach, immediately claiming Abbott’s intervention amounts to religious discrimination and “racial profiling” – the go-to defense when legitimate concerns are raised about projects with potentially troubling implications for American constitutional values and state sovereignty.
“These aren’t foreign adversaries. These are Texans. These are Americans. These are United States citizens,” completes Dan Cogdell.
Cogdell claims the controversy has led to death threats against the developers and the East Plano Islamic Center. However, the developers seem reluctant to address the core concern – why create an effectively segregated Islamic community rather than encouraging true integration into the existing fabric of Texas society? When a project appears designed to create a cultural and religious enclave within America, concerns about parallel legal systems and cultural divisions aren’t “Islamophobia” – they’re common sense.
Texas Takes a Stand for Constitutional Principles
Abbott’s intervention represents a principled defense of Texas sovereignty and American constitutional values. In 2017, he signed legislation specifically prohibiting Sharia law in Texas – a measure established to prevent the creeping implementation of non-constitutional legal frameworks. His approach to EPIC City simply reinforces this existing stance. The Governor has directed the Texas Rangers to investigate potential criminal activities linked to the East Plano Islamic Center, signaling his seriousness in preventing any circumvention of state law.
“Texas is a law-and-order state, and those scheming to evade law enforcement scrutiny must know justice is awaiting them,” concludes Greg Abbott.
While the developers insist they’ll comply with all applicable laws, the very concept of a concentrated religious enclave raises legitimate questions about assimilation and shared American values. Abbott’s stance reflects a growing concern across the nation about developments that potentially fragment our society along religious or cultural lines rather than strengthening our unified identity as Americans. Whether through permitting requirements or broader state authority, Texas appears determined to ensure that all communities within its borders operate under the same constitutional framework.
