PLANO, Tex. — On 402 acres of North Texas prairie, where Collin and Hunt counties meet, the East Plano Islamic Center (EPIC) dreams big. Its EPIC City project promises over 1,000 homes, a mosque, a K-12 school, a community college, retail shops, clinics, sports fields, and an elderly care center—a vibrant, inclusive community designed to enrich Texas’s cultural and economic tapestry. Led by the center’s resident scholar, Yasir Qadhi, a Yale-educated theologian, EPIC City is a bold testament to the American promise: a place where faith, family, and opportunity converge. Yet Gov. Greg Abbott’s aggressive investigations and inflammatory rhetoric threaten to derail this inspiring vision, casting a shadow over religious freedom and fairness in a state that prides itself on diversity.
Muslims in Texas and beyond see it as a model for the future—not just for Texas’s 400,000-strong Muslim community, but for all who value innovation and inclusion. The project’s unwarranted scrutiny reveals a troubling double standard, one that demands we champion its potential and challenge the politics of fear.
A Beacon of Community-Building
EPIC City, managed by Community Capital Partners, is no ordinary development. It’s a thoughtfully planned neighborhood where families of all backgrounds can thrive. The mosque will serve as a spiritual anchor, open to visitors curious about Islam. The schools and college will offer top-tier education, fostering leaders grounded in ethics and inquiry. Shops and clinics will create jobs, while sports facilities and elder care reflect a commitment to holistic living. Far from an enclave, as critics falsely claim, EPIC City invites integration, complying fully with Texas zoning and permitting laws.
Mr. Qadhi, whose scholarship resonates globally, has articulated a vision rooted in shared values. “This is about being good neighbors,” he said recently, standing before a packed congregation at EPIC’s Plano mosque. “We’re building for Texas, with Texas.” On X, supporters echo this sentiment, praising the project as a “game-changer” for community development, with one user noting, “EPIC City shows what faith and ambition can achieve together.”
The numbers back this optimism. Collin County, one of America’s fastest-growing regions, has seen its population soar 66 percent since 2010, fueled by diverse newcomers. EPIC City could add millions to the local economy through construction, retail, and education, all while showcasing Texas as a hub of pluralism.
A Governor’s Misguided Crusade
Yet Governor Abbott seems determined to obstruct this promise. In February, he took to X, warning of “Sharia cities” and “no-go zones”—baseless tropes that misrepresent EPIC City’s transparent plans. Citing a 2017 law banning Sharia in state courts, he has framed the project as a legal threat, despite zero evidence of Sharia governance in EPIC’s blueprint. His administration’s response—unleashing a dozen state agencies and Attorney General Ken Paxton to probe zoning and permits—feels less like due diligence and more like harassment.
The most egregious overreach came on March 27, when the Texas Funeral Service Commission issued a cease-and-desist order, accusing EPIC of running an unlicensed funeral home. Mr. Abbott called it a “crime,” ignoring EPIC’s partnership with Rahma Funeral Home, a licensed provider. The order, now under criminal review in Collin County, has disrupted sacred burial rites, leaving families like that of Amina Khan, a Plano widow, scrambling to honor loved ones. “We just wanted to bury my husband with dignity,” Ms. Khan said, her voice breaking. “Why target us?”
The Council on American-Islamic Relations, a leading voice for Muslim rights, has rightly called out Mr. Abbott’s actions as “hateful misinformation.” Mustafaa Carroll, CAIR’s Texas director, sees a broader pattern: “This isn’t about law—it’s about fearmongering to score political points.” Even Democrats like Christian Menefee, Harris County Attorney, have condemned the governor’s tactics, noting his selective urgency compared to delays in Democratic districts.
Supporters of EPIC City, myself included, see a clear double standard. Christian-themed developments, like those in Central Texas, face no such scrutiny, raising questions about equal protection under the law. The First Amendment guarantees religious freedom, and the Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination—principles EPIC’s legal team, led by Dan Cogdell, is prepared to defend. “This project is as American as it gets,” Mr. Cogdell said. “We’ll fight for its right to exist.”
Mr. Abbott’s rhetoric also ignores Texas’s proud diversity. Muslims contribute billions to the state’s economy, from tech startups in Austin to healthcare in Houston. EPIC City could amplify this legacy, attracting investment and talent. To obstruct it risks alienating a vibrant community and tarnishing Texas’s reputation as a land of opportunity.
This isn’t Mr. Abbott’s first foray into divisive governance. His $10 billion border security campaign, complete with razor wire and legal battles, has yielded mixed results while straining federal ties. His 2024 order targeting campus “antisemitic speech” sparked a CAIR lawsuit for chilling free expression. And his delay in filling Houston’s 18th Congressional District seat, vacant since Sylvester Turner’s death, has left 800,000 residents voiceless—a move critics call politically calculated.
Against this backdrop, the attack on EPIC City feels like another wedge, exploiting fear to rally a conservative base. But Texas is changing. By 2030, it will be a minority-majority state, and projects like EPIC City embody the future: diverse, dynamic, and united.
A Call to Support EPIC City
For EPIC’s members, the stakes are personal. Children face taunts at school, and community gatherings now require extra security. Yet their resolve shines through. At a recent prayer service, Mohammad Tariq, an EPIC board member, rallied the crowd: “This is our home, and we’re building for our kids’ future.” Applause erupted, a reminder of the community’s strength.
The local Muslim community believes EPIC City deserves a fair shot—not just for Muslims, but for all Texans who value innovation and inclusion. It’s a chance to prove that faith-based communities can uplift everyone, from Plano to beyond. On X, the hashtag #StandWithEPIC trends among those urging Mr. Abbott to reconsider, with one post summing it up: “Let them build. Let Texas shine.”
The path forward lies in dialogue, not division. EPIC has pledged full compliance, and its leaders welcome scrutiny that’s fair, not punitive. If Mr. Abbott truly champions Texas values—freedom, opportunity, community—he should embrace EPIC City, not obstruct it.
In North Texas, where fields await transformation, EPIC City stands as a vision worth fighting for. It’s time to let it rise.
Professor Khurshid Ahmad, Visionary of Islamic Economics, Passes Away at 93
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