Washington, D.C. | www.mpac.org | November 21, 2025 —Governor Greg Abbott of Texas has violated a fundamental pillar of the United States Constitution through his opposition to the expansion of the East Plano Islamic Center (EPIC) outside of Dallas — an expansion consistent with those commonly approved for Jewish and Christian congregations across the state. By obstructing this project, Governor Abbott has undermined the Constitution’s prohibition against religious tests for public trust and has eroded the principle of equal treatment under the law.
The governor’s statements and actions reinforce an alarming pattern of religious discrimination. His subsequent call to “ban Sharia law” in Texas demonstrates a clear misunderstanding of Islam and Islamic jurisprudence. Such rhetoric confuses the violent acts of extremist groups abroad — which operate in direct contradiction to Islamic principles — with the peaceful religious practices of American Muslims who view upholding the U.S. Constitution as both a civic duty and a religious obligation.
Governor Greg Abbott’s recent designation not only harms American Muslim organizations and communities but also represents a direct assault on fundamental constitutional principles, particularly the First and Fourteenth Amendments. His most egregious action came when he designated the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), a respected Muslim civil rights organization, as a “foreign terrorist organization.” This declaration was made without any evidentiary basis or reference to a violation of U.S. law. CAIR is a domestic organization protected under the First Amendment’s guarantees of freedom of speech, religion, and association. The governor’s action sets a dangerous precedent of criminalizing dissent and civic engagement by American Muslims.
The message implicit in the governor’s actions is deeply troubling: that exercising one’s constitutional rights — whether through peaceful protest, publishing op-eds, or speaking out against war crimes and oppression — may be construed as a national security threat. This notion is both unconstitutional and corrosive to democratic governance.
Such behavior by a public official represents not leadership, but dereliction of duty. It undermines national security by promoting fear, ignorance, and division. True security is built through trust, inclusion, and equal protection — not through scapegoating or religious prejudice.
By targeting one faith community to create a false sense of safety among others, Governor Abbott repeats a dark pattern in American history — one that has targeted Jews, Catholics, and Latter-day-saints in previous generations. Each time, America has been compelled to confront its prejudices and reaffirm its founding ideals.
As Benjamin Franklin warned, “Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.”
Governor Abbott’s actions do not make Texas or the United States safer. They weaken the moral and constitutional foundations that secure freedom for all Americans. State and national leaders must condemn these discriminatory acts and reaffirm a simple truth: Religious liberty is non-negotiable, and the rights of one faith community are the rights of every American.
