Texas Governor Greg Abbott has declared a total prohibition on any form of Sharia law or Sharia-governed zones within the state, denouncing calls for such systems as “foolish” and warning residents to report any attempts at implementation.
In a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter), the governor asserted: “I signed laws that BAN Sharia Law and Sharia Compounds in Texas. No business and no individual should fear fools like this.” He encouraged citizens to alert law enforcement or the Texas Department of Public Safety should anyone attempt to enforce Sharia-based rules.
The pronouncement followed a viral video showing a Houston-area Islamic cleric urging neighborhood shopkeepers to cease selling alcohol, pork, and lottery tickets in alignment with religious doctrine.
The move reflects deeper tensions surrounding a proposed development dubbed “EPIC City”—intended as a Muslim-centered community with faith-based institutions. That project spurred concerns from state officials, including Senator John Cornyn and Attorney General Ken Paxton, and prompted a U.S. Department of Justice civil rights investigation.
