‘ISLAMIC HOUSING DEVELOPMENT’ UNDER INVESTIGATION BY JUSTICE DEPARTMENT

A Muslim housing development in Texas is under investigation by the Justice Department amid concerns it would “violate the constitutional rights of Jewish and Christian Americans”.

The proposed development, put forward by the East Plano Islamic Centre (Epic), is touted as a “thriving ecosystem” that “paves the way for prosperity” and would be centred around a mosque and a private Islamic school.

Greg Abbott, the governor of Texas, accused the planner of creating an exclusively Muslim community that would impose Islamic law on residents.

Republican Senator John Cornyn urged Pam Bondi, the Attorney General, to investigate the development, writing: “A master-planned ‘community of thousands of Muslims’ could violate the constitutional rights of Jewish and Christian Texans, by preventing them from living in this new community and discriminating against them within the community.

“I further encourage the department to investigate whether Christians, Jews, and other non-Muslim minorities would receive equal protection under the law in this new community.

“Religious discrimination, whether explicit or implicit, is unconstitutional under the First and Fourteenth Amendments. Religious freedom is a cornerstone of our nation’s values, and I am concerned this community potentially undermines this vital protection.”

‘Epic City’

Mr Abott had also directed state agencies to probe the development, suggesting the Islamic centre had conducted illegal funerals in its mosque.

Named “Epic City”, developers claim the project will create a “vibrant, multi-generational and inclusive master planned community”.

The vision is to create a “safe and purpose-built environment that fosters growth, connection, and prosperity,” its website reads.

Construction has not begun and no permits to begin building the development have been issued, according to the New York Times.

“Epic has done nothing illegal and we will cooperate fully with any and all investigations,” Dan Cogdell, a lawyer for Epic, told the paper.

“Texans would be far better served by the good senator solving real problems and instead of twisting himself into a pretzel over imaginary ones.”

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2025-05-09T22:00:17Z