Sharia Schools? Texas A.G. vs "EPIC City" Battle Heats Up
Plano ISD Investigated
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is demanding documents from Plano Independent School District (PISD) officials after being made aware of what he calls "potential connections between school board members and the East Plano Islamic Center (EPIC), which is affiliated with EPIC City."
EPIC City is a proposed 400+ acre North Texas development centered around a mosque, 1,000 homes, and a K-12 private Islamic school. Texas Governor Greg Abbott was the first state official to express concern last month about what he calls a "Sharia City" into an all-out battle against its developer.
"To be clear, Sharia law is not allowed in Texas. Nor are Sharia cities. Nor are “no go zones“ which this project seems to imply. Bottom line. The project as proposed ... is not allowed in Texas." -Texas Governor Greg Abbott
Since then, the Texas Attorney General's Office and several other state agencies have responded to the governor's call to investigate both EPIC and EPIC City.
Paxton had previously requested records from EPIC City's developer, as well as city leaders in Plano, Richardson, Wylie, and Josephine, Texas, concerning EPIC City. On Wednesday, April 23, 2025, he widened his investigation to include the Plano ISD "after being made aware of potential connections between school board members and East Plano Islamic Center."
The catalyst for this appears to be a video of a question-and-answer session involving Plano Mayor John Muns and Collin County Commissioner Duncan Webb at the EPIC Masjid in October 2022, posted by the "Rair Foundation USA," formerly known as "Resistance Against Islamic Radicals," on Rumble.
Mayor Muns offered to arrange a meeting between Plano school board members and EPIC representatives after concerns were raised about whether Plano ISD's curriculum aligned with their community's family values.
The Rair Foundation's website complains that "many conservatives across Texas—including Christian churches, Hindu communities, and traditional family advocates ... have (not) been granted a private audience with school board members inside their churches, temples, or community halls."
"What we’re witnessing in Plano is not about inclusion—it seems to be about preferential treatment for a religious enclave advancing an entirely different, Sharia-based worldview." -Rair Foundation USA wesbite
A Plano ISD spokesperson told Dallas radio station KERA the district would comply with the Attorney General's request:
"While we are unaware of the specific conversations mentioned in the Attorney General’s press release earlier today, the district will fully cooperate with any requests received from the Attorney General’s office." - Plano ISD Statement
The battle between Texas and EPIC has also become an issue between Paxton and US Senator John Cornyn of Texas - who Paxton has announced he will oppose in the 2026 GOP Primaries.
A Cornyn Campaign ad claims Paxton is "compromised" when it comes to investigating EPIC, because the Islamic Center is represented by the same lawyer who successfully defended Paxton during his 2023 impeachment trial in the Texas Senate:
So far, Paxton is not taking that bait - and is letting the multiple investigations his office has launched concerning EPIC and EPIC City speak for themselves:
“My office is demanding documents from Plano ISD officials who may have communicated with individuals involved with EPIC City as part of our ongoing investigation into this development. We will thoroughly review the records we receive and hold anyone who violates Texas law accountable.” -Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (April 23, 2025)
Despite the furor, the developers of Epic City say the planned community will not exclude potential residents based on their religious and ethnic backgrounds:
“Our vision is to build a diverse and inclusive community — one in which people of every background, faith, and culture can live together in harmony. We will uphold the safety and well-being of our neighbors at every step of development, starting with thorough individualized assessments of prospective buyers to ensure they align with our goals of safety and security. We look forward to working together to foster mutual understanding, respect, and collaboration as our project moves forward.” -theepicranches.com
Are you concerned about the development of "Epic City" in Texas?
Share your opinion in the comments to this article.
Abrazos,
Jack Beavers
Around 20 years ago, East Plano High School was at the center of a Heroin scandal. There's still a problem in Plano ISD.
There's been a muslim community in North Dallas and Collin county for at least 35 years, for most of that time, it has been peaceful and law abiding.
Dallas County police were burned by the handling of the Ahmed Mohamed clock incident in Irving, only 10 years ago. And burned again by sniper fire during a BLM "demonstration."
The area is an obvious target by militant islamists.
Michigan, Minnesota, Illinois, and Wisconsin have also been targeted. We see in Europe and England where it can go. Texas cannot go the same way.
As much as I dislike both Cornyn and Paxton, this has got to be stopped.
I hope not so