The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Texas), the state’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today welcomed a federal court ruling allowing the East Plano Islamic Center’s (EPIC) religious freedom lawsuit against the Texas Funeral Service Commission to proceed.
SEE: A Reagan-Appointed Judge Issued a Firm Rebuke of Texas Republicans’ Claims About the East Plano Islamic Center
In denying the state’s motion to dismiss, U.S. District Judge David Alan Ezra also rejected claims suggesting EPIC intended to impose “Sharia law,” noting that “no evidence has been presented” to support those allegations. The court further found that the alleged conduct by state officials appeared to be “the result of religious discrimination” in violation of EPIC’s clearly established constitutional rights.
Mustafaa Carroll, Executive Director of CAIR-Texas’ Dallas-Fort Worth Chapter, said:
“We commend EPIC and its attorneys for their tireless work defending the constitutional rights of their community. This ruling is an important affirmation that religious liberty and equal justice under the law apply to every Texan.
“For more than a year, Muslim Texans have watched public officials single out EPIC through repeated accusations that lacked evidentiary support. The court’s decision reinforces that every religious community deserves to be treated fairly and judged by the law: not by fear, stereotypes, or political rhetoric.
“We welcome this ruling and hope it serves as a reminder that public officials must uphold the Constitution and ensure that every community receives equal treatment, regardless of faith.“
The ruling follows months of public accusations against EPIC and its proposed EPIC City development by Texas officials. The court allowed EPIC’s lawsuit challenging the state’s actions to move forward while rejecting claims that EPIC sought to impose Sharia law, finding no evidence had been presented to support those assertions.
CAIR-Texas urges public officials to reject religious bias and ensure that all Texans receive equal treatment under the Constitution, regardless of their faith.
CAIR-Texas will continue to defend the civil rights of Muslim Texans and advocate for equal treatment, religious liberty, and justice for all.
CAIR-Texas’s mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
La misión de CAIR-Texas es proteger las libertades civiles, mejorar la comprensión del Islam, promover la justicia y empoderar a los musulmanes en los Estados Unidos.
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CONTACT: Mustafaa Carroll, Executive Director, CAIR-Texas Dallas-Fort Worth Chapter; Edward Ahmed Mitchell, CAIR National Deputy Director, 404-285-9530, e-Mitchell@cair.com; Robert McCaw, CAIR Government Affairs Director, 202-742-6448, rmccaw@cair.com; Ibrahim Hooper, CAIR National Communications Director, 202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com; Ismail Allison, CAIR National Communications Manager, 202-770-6280, iallison@cair.com