Texas bans Sharia law, Guv urges reporting of compliance attempts

In USA, Texas Governor Greg Abbott has said his state has banned the enforcement of Islamic Sharia law and urged residents to report any attempts to impose “Sharia compliance” on businesses or individuals. Abbott’s remarks followed a viral video from Houston showing a Muslim cleric using a loudspeaker to urge shopkeepers not to sell alcohol, pork, or lottery tickets. The governor described the incident as harassment and said Texas would not tolerate attempts to enforce religious codes in public life. Texas does not have a formal “Sharia ban,” but the 2017 American Laws for American Courts bill prevents courts from applying any foreign or religious code, including Sharia, if it conflicts with US law. 
The controversy began when Imam Qasim ibn Ali Khan of Masjid At-Tawhid was filmed confronting a store owner and accused the shop of selling items deemed forbidden under Islamic law, known as haram. In the clip, Khan said that they were violating their faith by offering pork, alcohol, and gambling products. "This is the beginning of the campaign. We’re serving notice to America and the world that enough is enough," he said in the viral video clip.Khan launched a campaign to pressure Muslim-owned businesses, warning that non-compliance would lead to boycotts.

ISLAMIFICATION: Houston area Islamic cleric demanding shopkeepers stop selling alcohol, pork and lottery tickets to comply with Islamic Sharia laws. pic.twitter.com/fYsnIbCBT9

— @amuse (@amuse) September 7, 2025

Muslim advocacy groups, including the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), criticised Abbott’s statements as misleading, stressing that Sharia governs personal religious practice, not civil law. Earlier this year, Abbott opposed EPIC City, a proposed 400-acre residential and commercial development by the East Plano Islamic Center. The project included homes, schools, a mosque, and commercial facilities. Abbott claimed it could become a “Sharia zone” and ordered multiple state agencies to investigate. Critics said the governor exaggerated the threat and warned of religious profiling. Abbott, a Republican and ally of President Donald Trump, has frequently taken strong positions on immigration, religion, and cultural issues.