Texas governor says new Muslim 'Sharia city' will 'not be allowed in Texas'

Texas Governor Greg Abbott has declared that "Sharia cities" are not allowed in the state, coming after plans for EPIC City, a Muslim-centered community that will house over 1,000 people 30 minutes outside of Dallas, and nearby similar communities, were revealed.

"To be clear, Sharia law is not allowed in Texas," Abbott wrote. "Nor are Sharia cities. Nor are 'no go zones' which this project seems to imply. Bottom line. The project as proposed in the video is not allowed in Texas."

The project described in the video is EPIC City, located in Josephine, Texas. Located on 402 acres, the video described the community as "more than just a neighborhood, it’s a way of life. A meticulously designed community that brings Islam to the forefront." At the center of the community is a mosque as well as a school.

The demand for the community was so large, said Dr. Yasir Qadhi, a resident scholar at East Plano Islamic Center (EPIC), that two additional communities, dubbed EPIC Ranches, have been planned. These communities have larger plots and are located down the road from the central EPIC City. Land acquisition reportedly began in September for the project, with phase one selling out "within days."

Qadhi wrote that the community will include "Islamic Schools, college, masjid, retirement home for elderly (including assisted living), clinics, retail shops, and more....all within walking distance, surrounded by a loving, safe community in a neighborhood of friends and family," and is open to "non-Americans as well."