Texas Governor Greg Abbott has ordered a halt to the construction of EPIC City, a proposed 400-acre Muslim-centered community near Josephine, Texas, citing multiple ongoing investigations into the project. The development, spearheaded by the East Plano Islamic Center (EPIC), aims to include over 1,000 homes, a mosque, schools, parks, and commercial spaces.
Governor Abbott announced that the state has launched approximately a dozen investigations into EPIC City, encompassing potential violations of financial, housing, and consumer protection laws. Additionally, the U.S. Department of Justice has initiated a federal civil rights investigation following concerns raised by Senator John Cornyn. Cornyn expressed apprehension that the development could discriminate against non-Muslims and potentially enforce Islamic law, which would contravene constitutional protections.
EPIC City representatives have refuted these allegations, asserting that the community is designed to be inclusive and compliant with all legal requirements. Attorney Dan Cogdell, representing EPIC City, criticized the investigations as politically motivated and rooted in anti-Muslim bias, noting that similar scrutiny is not applied to Christian or Jewish developments.
The controversy has sparked broader concerns about religious discrimination and the treatment of Muslim communities in Texas. The Council on American-Islamic Relations has condemned the probes as unjust and discriminatory, emphasizing the importance of equal treatment under the law.
