The Texas chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Texas) today called for the State Bar of Texas’ Commission for Lawyer Discipline and other relevant bodies to investigate Attorney General Ken Paxton’s alleged efforts to pressure a civil servant into approving baseless legal action against the East Plano Islamic Center (EPIC) and its proposed housing development.
In an Oct. 12 investigation, Texas Monthly reported that Abbott’s advisers developed a plan to pursue a securities-based lawsuit against a Muslim-led housing project and pressured a key department to support the action even though it concluded there was no legal basis to do so. The report detailed how former Texas State Securities Board Commissioner Travis Iles concluded that the available evidence did not establish that EPIC City’s real estate transactions constituted securities under Texas law.
CAIR-Texas said in a statement:
“This investigative report demonstrates what Texas Muslims and other minority groups have long known: the legacy of Joseph McCarthy is alive and well in Greg Abbott and Ken Paxton. Governor Abbott and Attorney General have abused their power to launch witch hunts against houses of worship, voting rights groups and even a cemetery. Instead of serving all Texans, Mr. Paxton allegedly even strong-armed a governmental agency into targeting a Texas Muslim community, even after the agency concluded there was no basis for the line of attack Paxton wanted to pursue. These witch hunts and publicity stunts masquerading as investigations must come to an end, and the Commission for Lawyer Discipline in the State Bar of Texas should investigate Mr. Paxton for potential misconduct.”
The report also describes how anti-Muslim claims about EPIC City, including allegations that the development would create a Muslim-only community governed by Islamic law, helped fuel government scrutiny. Governor Abbott publicly declared that “Sharia law is not allowed in Texas” in response to the controversy.
Muslim Americans have the same right as other Americans to establish houses of worship, organize religious institutions and develop property in accordance with applicable law. Government officials must not use public office to amplify anti-Muslim conspiracy theories or subject Muslim communities to unequal treatment.
CAIR’s mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
La misión de CAIR es proteger las libertades civiles, mejorar la comprensión del Islam, promover la justicia y empoderar a los musulmanes en los Estados Unidos.
CONTACT: CAIR-Houston Director, Imran Ghani, [email protected], 713-922-5270; CAIR Texas Government Affairs and Legislative Manager, Sameeha Rizvi, [email protected], 512-893-1371; CAIR-Austin Director, Shaimaa Zayan, [email protected], 737-402-9200; Mustafaa Carroll, [email protected], 832-549-1042.