Texas: Muslim ‘EPIC City’ Renames Itself After Governor Abbott Alleges Push for Sharia Law

Image: Jihad Watch

An Islamic organisation attempting to establish what critics have described as a self-contained “Muslim city” in eastern Texas has taken steps to rebrand its controversial project, following mounting political pressure and public scrutiny. The move comes after Texas Governor Greg Abbott accused the group of harbouring intentions to introduce Sharia law within the state — an allegation that pushed the development into the centre of a heated political debate.

Originally promoted under the name EPIC City, the proposed township has now been renamed The Meadow, according to a report by The Houston Chronicle. The change in branding appears to be a strategic effort by the developers to calm tensions and distance the project from growing fears that it aims to establish an enclave operating under religious laws or separate cultural norms. Despite the grand vision being widely publicised, the East Plano Islamic Community (EPIC) — the organisation behind the initiative — is still stuck in the earliest phases of the project. No construction has taken place, no land has been officially prepared, and crucially, the group has yet to submit any permits or formal documentation required for real progress.

At the heart of the controversy is Yasir Qadhi, a cleric with a long and well-documented history of inflammatory rhetoric. Over the past several decades, Qadhi has been associated with teachings that include anti-Semitic conspiracy theories, homophobic messages, and comments that downplay or deny aspects of the Holocaust. In one particularly alarming sermon, he put forward an unfounded and provocative claim that Jewish academics had “infiltrated” religious studies departments at American universities with the objective of “destroying Muslims” from within — a statement widely condemned as extremist and deeply irresponsible.

These resurfaced statements, coupled with the scale and secrecy surrounding the proposed settlement, raised red flags for Texas officials. Governor Abbott, along with several Republican lawmakers, publicly questioned the intentions behind the project. Their concerns were not merely about the construction itself but about the ideological framework connected to Qadhi and EPIC. Many fear the development could evolve into a parallel community governed by religious rules, potentially normalising or indirectly introducing aspects of Sharia-based governance in a state known for its strong stance on legal uniformity and cultural integration.

The debate has since grown into a broader conversation about religious freedom, extremism, community development, and the balance between cultural autonomy and state oversight. While EPIC maintains that the project is simply meant to serve as a peaceful community space, the revelations about Qadhi’s past rhetoric and the organisation’s reluctance to provide transparent details have only intensified public suspicion. For now, The Meadow remains a concept on paper — but its future is likely to be shaped not just by urban planning regulations, but also by the political storm surrounding it.

(This Article was originally published by Jihad Watch)