Transfer comes after Gov. Greg Abbott cites ‘severe authorized points’ with Plano Islamic heart plans
A mosque behind a proposed Muslim neighborhood growth in rural Texas is now beneath investigation by state authorities for allegedly working a funeral residence and not using a license.
The East Plano Islamic Heart (EPIC), situated about 20 miles north of Dallas, is the mosque behind the formidable EPIC Metropolis and EPIC Ranches undertaking that goals to ascertain a self-sustaining neighborhood roughly 40 miles northeast of Dallas, that includes over 1,000 houses, a mosque, Islamic faculties, clinics, shops, parks, and a nursing residence on a 402-acre website spanning Collin and Hunt Counties.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott introduced Wednesday that the Texas Funeral Service Fee (TFSC), which oversees all funeral operations within the state, despatched a cease-and-desist letter ordering the EPIC compound to right away cease all unlawful funeral service operations. Whereas particulars had been scant, the letter addressed to EPIC from TFSC Govt Director Scott Bingaman accused the Islamic heart of “operating as a funeral home without an establishment license” in violation of state regulation.
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“Effective immediately, you are ordered to cease and desist funeral service operations,” wrote Bingaman, who added the company is making a legal referral to the Collin County District Legal professional’s workplace.
“Here in Texas, we uphold the rule of law,” said Abbott. “The group behind the proposed East Plano Islamic Heart compound in Collin County is knowingly breaking state regulation in some ways, together with by working a funeral residence and not using a license. It is a crime, and it’ll not be tolerated. Texas will proceed to defend our communities from any threats posed by EPIC Metropolis.”
Earlier this week, Abbott announced that a dozen state agencies are investigating potential illegal activities taking place at EPIC.
The governor took to X on Monday to voice concerns about the development, stating, “The proposed EPIC compound in Collin [County] has serious legal issues. A dozen state agencies are investigating it, the Attorney General will look into it, and legislators are considering laws to restrict it, as well as laws to prevent foreign adversaries from buying land in Texas.”
The announcement signals a robust state response, involving multiple agencies and Attorney General Ken Paxton, to scrutinize the project’s legal standing and implications.
Abbott’s comments are the latest response from the governor’s office following his warning in February that “Sharia law is not allowed in Texas” in response to reports about the proposed development in rural North Texas.
He further warned against the creation of “Sharia cities” or “no-go zones,” suggesting the development could imply exclusionary practices. “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,” Abbott wrote. “Bottom line: The project as proposed in the video is not allowed in Texas.”
In response, an X account named Epic Ranches replied, “Governor Abbott, our vision is to build a diverse, safe, and inclusive community — one in which people of every background, faith, and culture can live together in harmony. It should go without saying that our community, like any other in this great state, will follow all local, state, and federal laws. We would love for you to see the site and learn about our project over some Hutchins BBQ.”
With an estimated Muslim population of over 313,000, Texas has one of the largest Muslim communities in the U.S., with nearly 150,000 Muslim residents in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex.
Located in the Dallas suburb of Plano, EPIC opened in July 2015 as a nonprofit “formed exclusively for educational, religious, and social purposes” and bills itself as a “a multi-ethnic, multi-racial, multi-lingual, non-sectarian, diverse, and open community committed to full and equal participation and involvement of men and women who are community members of EPIC and subscribe to accept its rules, regulations, and procedures.”
Well known among the Muslim community and with millions of followers on social media, Qadhi, who also studied at the Islamic University of Madinah in Saudi Arabia, and at Yale University, has played a key role in the promotion of the EPIC project: he’s said the latest offering, EPIC Ranches, is a “limited time opportunity” that aims to “change the entire dawah scene by showing the world what it means to be a Muslim living in the West.”
In Islam, dawah is described by the Christian apologetics website Got Questions as the “Islamic equivalent” to Christian evangelism.
“Well bless their hearts.”
