North Texas faith leaders condemn Abbott's EPIC City investigations
Faith leaders support EPIC city development
The council on American Islamic relations is condemning governor Abbott’s investigation of EPIC city.
DALLAS - The Council on American-Islamic Relations is condemning Gov. Greg Abbott’s investigation of EPIC City, a housing development that the East Plano Islamic Center is proposing.
EPIC City Development Dispute
The backstory:
The East Plano Islamic Center, or EPIC, is the organization behind the proposed development in eastern Collin County near Josephine, Texas.
EPIC’s for-profit company, Community Capital Partners, purchased the 402 acres with the goal of building a mosque, along with 1,000 homes, townhomes, and apartments.
A promotional video advertises the development as a place where all are welcome, but Islam is at the forefront of the community.
That seems to be what caught the governor’s attention.
"The project as proposed in the video is not allowed in Texas," he said on the social media platform X.
Gov. Abbott and Attorney General Ken Paxton launched about a dozen investigations targeting EPIC.
Gov. Abbott warns EPIC City not to build, developers say no project plans have been submitted
Gov. Greg Abbott warned the East Plano Islamic Center and community developers that it cannot begin construction on the proposed EPIC City until certain criteria are met.
What they're saying:
The director of the Dallas-Fort Worth office for the Council on American-Islamic Relations believes Abbott and Paxton are disseminating hateful misinformation about their Muslim constituents.
"They have chosen to abuse their power by launching groundless investigations against EPIC, blocking funerals, intimidating children and families, and violating their rights to constitutionally protected religious expression," said Mustafaa Carroll, CAIR DFW’s executive director.
EPIC City's attorney says EPIC, development a victim of 'racial profiling'
The developers behind a controversial community in Collin and Hunt counties have retained a high-profile Texas lawyer as they navigate a series of challenges from the state.
CAIR’s leaders also decried Abbott’s actions against EPIC’s funeral services.
The Texas Funeral Service Commission sent a cease and desist letter ordering EPIC to stop all illegal funeral service operations.
The commission’s letter accused EPIC of operating a funeral home without a license.
The Source: FOX 4's Lori Brown gathered information for this story at a news conference held by the Council on American-Islamic Relations' DFW office.