Texas Governor Greg Abbott has made his stance clear regarding the proposed EPIC City project, a planned community near Dallas that has sparked widespread debate. In a direct statement via social media, Abbott declared, “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”.
A self-sufficient city intended to serve Muslim citizens is the goal of the EPIC City project, which was started by a group of Muslim developers. Like other faith-based communities around the US, it seeks to offer mosques, Islamic schools, and halal food stores. Proponents contend that these kinds of communities promote cultural preservation and religious freedom. Abbott and other opponents, however, contend that the project could promote alternative legal frameworks that are in opposition to state law, as reported by Newsweek.
The main point of Abbott’s comments is that the EPIC City project might be a way to implement Sharia law, an Islamic legal system, into the Texas government. Similar allegations have been made in previous European debates, and his allusion to “no-go zones”—areas purportedly governed by particular religious or ethnic groups—echoes those discussions. Nevertheless, there is no legal proof that EPIC City will conduct business in violation of US law. As long as religious communities follow federal and state laws, they are protected by the First Amendment.
Reactions to Abbott’s statement have been polarized. Conservative groups and some Texas residents support his position, fearing that such a development could erode traditional American values. On the other hand, civil rights organizations and religious freedom advocates argue that Abbott’s statement misrepresents the project and could incite unnecessary fear and discrimination, as noted by the Texas Scorecard. The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) has publicly condemned Abbott’s remarks, calling them “an unfounded attack on religious liberty”.
Religious communities have already attempted to create their own neighborhoods. Similar initiatives have functioned under U.S. law free from official intervention, such as Christian-based enclaves in various states and Orthodox Jewish communities in New York. The fundamental question is still whether Sharia law concerns outweigh constitutional rights or if EPIC City would adhere to current legal frameworks.
It is unclear if EPIC City will eventually come to pass or if it will encounter insurmountable legal obstacles.
