Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announced Tuesday that the East Plano Islamic Center (EPIC) could not begin construction in the proposed Muslim neighborhood due to legal issues, according to a press release.
Epic proposed building a Muslim “city” on 402 acres of land in Texas, in an organization labeled “Epic City.” According to Newsweek. The proposal includes the construction of more than 1,000 homes, Islamic religion, universities, mosques and schools based on retail. Texas officials have launched investigations according to the project.
EPIC failed to obtain proper approval and necessary permission for construction projects, press release from Abbott’s office I said. The committee also requested that Epic and its affiliates be written to confirm that no construction activities have occurred.
“The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality has discovered that the group behind the proposed epic compound did not submit the necessary permissions to begin construction,” the governor said. “They must ensure that they are immediately halting construction of illegal projects within seven days or facing the full weight of the law. Texas will enforce the law and protect their communities from illegal behavior or threats posed by EPIC or its affiliates.”
The move follows allegations of Epic’s intentions towards the project. In response to a now-repeated post that allegedly suggests that the proposal could lead to the Sharia Act, Abbott raised concerns in February.
“To be clear, Sharia law is not permitted in Texas, nor is it a Sharia city either, nor is it the ‘nozone-free’ that this project appears to be implied,” he writes. Sharia law is an Islamic law derived from the Quran, a sacred book of religion, and other texts.
To be clear, Sharia laws are not permitted in Texas.
The same is not true of the Sharia city either.
Nor is it the “no-go zone” that the project appears to be implied.
Conclusion. The projects proposed in the video are not permitted in Texas. https://t.co/5sw5vdxd31
– Greg Abbott (@gregabbott_tx) February 24, 2025
Epic affiliate Community Capital Partners said the community will allow everyone to live in harmony together, Newsweek It has been reported.
“For me, as a sixth generation Texan, I read that I am not welcome here,” said the Houston Chronicle, director of the Houston chapter of the American Council on Islamic Relations. It has been reported.
“The grand city will become a role model community for thousands of well-integrated Muslims… We are going to give back to this state and this country. It shows what it means to be a Muslim neighbour.”
The developers of Epic City brought in one of Ken Paxton’s lawyers, Dan Cogdell of Houston, to defend them.https://t.co/kfqfdqrau9
– Houston Chronicle (@houstonchron) April 3, 2025
“Epic City is a thoughtful community designed for families, just like hundreds of people in Texas, and the only reason it is unfairly targeted is that there is a mosque in the plan instead of churches and temples.
Abbott reiterated his concerns about allegations that the project was tied to Sharia Act online on Tuesday. “And under the law I signed in 2017, Sharia law is prohibited in Texas. Texas is investigating spectacular cities for many allegations, including attempts to circumvent that law. All Texas entities must comply with state laws, not Sharia’s laws.” (Related: rising Democratic star Jasmine Crockett is called paralytic Greg Abbott “Governor Hot Wheel”)
And under the law I signed in 2017, the Sharia Act is prohibited in Texas.
Texas is investigating Epic City on a number of allegations, including attempts to circumvent the law.
All Texas entities must comply with state laws and not with Sharia laws. https://t.co/lrlefjelov
– Greg Abbott (@gregabbott_tx) April 1, 2025
The governor’s office noted that several agencies are continuing to investigate the project due to potential criminal violations.
