A proposed mixed-use development in Texas, spearheaded by a mosque, has become the center of a heated national debate — igniting accusations, political interventions, and a wave of Islamophobic rhetoric.
The planned community, called EPIC City, was envisioned to include 1,000 housing units, senior living, commercial spaces, a faith-based school, and a community college. Promotional materials emphasized inclusivity, stating the development would welcome residents of all faiths. However, online criticism quickly escalated after a post claimed the project was “the expansion of a sharia-controlled society” and described the religious school as “a pipeline for a parallel Islamic society, enforcing sharia from childhood.”
High-profile reposts from Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and Sen. John Cornyn amplified the outrage. Abbott argued, “All entities in Texas must follow state law, not sharia law,” while Cornyn wrote to U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi urging a federal investigation, claiming EPIC City would discriminate against non-Muslims.
In March, the Texas State Securities Board launched an investigation into EPIC for alleged securities violations. By late June, the Department of Justice dropped its investigation, but Abbott signed a new property law aimed at challenging the development.
The mosque, supported by the Muslim Public Affairs Council during the controversy, faced severe operational consequences — including the shutdown of its funeral services. Observers note that while anti-Shariah rhetoric remains widespread, public pushback against such narratives is also growing.
“I’ve been covering this for 15 years,” journalist Ali said. “It used to be always the Muslims who had to call it out.”
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