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Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announced Tuesday that the East Plano Islamic Center (EPIC) could not begin construction on a proposed Muslim neighborhood due to legal issues, according to a press release.
EPIC has proposed building a Muslim ‘city’ on 402 acres of land in Texas, the organization labeled “EPIC City,” according to Newsweek. The proposal includes building over 1,000 homes, a school based on the Islamic religion, a college, a mosque, and retail operations.
Texas authorities have begun an investigation in response to the project.
Be informed, not misled.
Newsweek says, "Texas Governor Greg Abbott has insisted 'Sharia law is not allowed in Texas' in response to proposals for a new Islamic themed town near Josephine, around 40 minutes from Dallas."
According to CBS, the East Plano Islamic Center is orchestrating the project, called "EPIC City," on a 402-acre parcel that includes parts of Collin and Hunt counties.
Newsweek says this is why it matters: "During his first term in office, President Donald Trump banned travel to the United States from a number of Muslim majority countries, having called for a 'total and complete shutdown of Muslims' entering the country during the campaign."
They continue, "After returning to office on January 20, Trump signed an executive order instructing officials to make a list of nations 'for which vetting and screening information is so deficient as to warrant a partial or full suspension' on the admission of nationals from those countries."
Texas Governor Greg Abbott has blocked construction on the project. For now.
The press release from Abbott's office said EPIC failed to obtain proper authorization and the permits needed for its construction project. The commission also sent a letter to EPIC and its affiliates demanding that they confirm that no construction activities have occurred.
“The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality found that the group behind the proposed EPIC compound did not submit the required permits to begin construction,” the governor said. “They must confirm within seven days that they are immediately ceasing any construction of their illegal project or face the full weight of the law. The State of Texas will enforce its laws and protect our communities from unlawful actions or threats posed by EPIC or its affiliates.”
This move followed allegations against EPIC’s intentions for the project. In February, Abbott expressed concern in response to a now-deleted post allegedly suggesting the proposal could lead to Sharia law.
Abbott said, "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,” he wrote. Sharia law is Islamic law derived from the Quran, the religion’s holy book, along with other texts.
Newsweek says, "EPIC’s affiliate, Community Capital Partners, said the community will allow everyone to live harmoniously together."
The Houston Chronicle said, "To me, as someone who is a sixth generation Texan, it reads that I’m not welcome here," William White, director of the Houston branch of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, said.
“EPIC City is a thoughtful community designed for families, just like hundreds of others in Texas. The only reason it is being unfairly targeted, is because there is a mosque in the plans instead of a church or a temple. That’s it,” Dan Cogdell, the lawyer hired to represent the developer’s plan, said, the Houston Chronicle reported.
Abbott reiterated his concerns about allegations that the project was tied to Sharia law online Tuesday. “And Sharia law is outlawed in Texas under a law I signed in 2017. Texas is investigating EPIC City for many allegations, including attempts to circumvent that law. All entities in Texas must follow state law, not Sharia law,” the governor wrote in response to a post by Riley Gaines, a defender of women’s sports.
Takeaway
Many claim that Thomas Jefferson never said, "Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty." However, people quoted Jefferson as having made the statement as early as the early 1800s.
Andrew Jackson said this in his farewell speech in 1837. James Buchanan said this in a speech on veto power in 1842. Frederick Douglass apparently said this enough to warrant discussion in this book on Frederick Douglass’ proverbial rhetoric.
Freedom and Liberty are fragile and must be protected at all costs.
I'll be talking more about this on our radio program this morning.
Please join me. Here's how.
Be Informed. Be Vigilant. Be Discerning. Be Engaged. Be Prayerful.
