Texas has slammed the brakes on the construction of the sprawling over 400-acre Muslim society dubbed “EPIC City” for East Plano Islamic Center.
According to retired Plano detective Douglas Deaton, the city of 1,000 family homes and mixed-use structures would be an expansion of an already existing 74 single-family homes Islamic settlement near a large mosque in an incorporated area. Lieutenant Deaton warned that the settlement bears the hallmarks of exclusionary Muslim “no-go zones” like those found across Europe.
Additionally, its development is in collaboration with UIF Corporation, which has a Sharia-compliant Supervisory Board. The past UIF Corporation president is also the co-founder of the Yaken Institute for Islamic research, which is staunchly pro-Sharia, raising concerns of the imposition of Islamic law. However, the project denies those allegations.
“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. Bottom line. The project as proposed in the video is not allowed in Texas,” Texas Governor Greg Abbott tweeted in February.
Meanwhile, the Lone Star State has dealt the proposed Islamic Center a blow after launching half a dozen investigations into the project in addition to ongoing federal probes by the Department of Justice.
“This matter, and similar matters, are taken very seriously, and actions are being taken to address all concerns,” tweeted Texas Governor Greg Abbott.
On April 1, Gov. Abbott found that the Center lacked the necessary permits to continue its construction. He subsequently launched investigations into whether the funeral home was operating without the required license, whether investors had been fully informed, potential violations of consumer protection laws, and potential failures to comply with applicable state and federal securities requirements, including protections against fraud.” The Lone Star State governor also launched a probe into potential violations of the Texas Fair Housing Act for anticipated discrimination against non-Muslims.
Meanwhile, U.S. Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) thanked the DOJ for taking his concerns seriously and launching a probe following an April 11 scathing letter recommending a federal investigation into the project.
He highlighted the project’s marketing language that stated the homes would be sold to noncitizens and restricted to those who “contribute to the overall makeup of [the] community.” After media backlash, the project changed the statement by saying it would “conduct thorough individualized assessments of prospective buyers to ensure they align with [their] goals.”
“The Fair Housing Act of 1968 explicitly prohibits discrimination in housing sales, rentals, and financing based on race, religion, or national origin,” he stated.
“I am grateful to Attorney General Bondi and the Department of Justice for hearing my concerns and opening an investigation into the proposed EPIC City development in North Texas,” said Cornyn. “Religious discrimination and Sharia Law have no place in the Lone Star State. Any violations of federal law must be swiftly prosecuted, and I know under the Trump administration, they will be.”
Sen. Cornyn had warned that the Center would discriminate against Christians, Jews, and other non-Muslim minorities by preventing them from living within the community. He questioned whether these groups had equal protection under the law in the new community.
“Religious discrimination, whether explicit or implicit, is unconstitutional under the First and Fourteenth Amendments. Religious freedom is a cornerstone of our nation’s values, and I am concerned this community potentially undermines this vital protection,” he noted.
