# Texas political targeting of Muslim religious practices

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/texas-political-targeting-of-muslim-religious-practices
> Updated: 2026-09-24T02:25:49.000Z. Sources: 12. Developments: 2.

Texas officials and legislators have initiated actions targeting Muslim religious practices and organizations, characterizing them as political threats. Governor Greg Abbott designated the Council on American-Islamic Relations as a foreign terrorist organization under state law and threatened to withhold state funding from local entities over religious celebrations and infrastructure plans. Legislative efforts, including the ‘Sharia Free Texas Caucus’, have sought to address what lawmakers describe as a ‘parallel culture’ through potential redefinitions of religious qualification.

This political movement has intensified, with leaders such as Senator Ted Cruz and Governor Abbott increasing rhetoric against Sharia law. Abbott has vowed to ban the religious code in Texas and directed investigations into suspected Sharia tribunals in North Texas. In response, Muslim American civic leaders have defended Sharia as a guide for ‘faith, justice, and mercy’. The issue has expanded to the federal level through House Judiciary Subcommittee hearings, amid a broader trend where twelve states have passed legislation to restrict or ban Sharia law.

## Claims

- Governor Greg Abbott vowed to fully ban Sharia law in Texas. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- Senator Ted Cruz stated that Sharia law has no place in America. (corroborated by 2 sources)
- Sabeel Ahmed, director of GainPeace, argues that Sharia is often misunderstood as being solely about punishments. (corroborated by 2 sources)
- Attorney General Ken Paxton launched an investigation into a Dallas-based Islamic Tribunal. (single source)
- A House Judiciary Subcommittee held hearings regarding the relationship between political Islam, Sharia law, and the Constitution. (single source)
- Twelve states have passed legislation to restrict or ban Sharia law. (single source)

## Timeline

### 2026-09-24: Texas politicians target Sharia law amid rising religious debate

Texas politicians Ted Cruz and Greg Abbott have called for bans on Sharia law, sparking pushback from Muslim American leaders who defend the religious code as a personal guide for faith and justice.

9 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/texas-politicians-target-sharia-law-amid-rising-religious-debate

### 2026-08-31: Texas officials target Muslim religious practices as political threats

Texas officials are increasingly treating Muslim religious practices, such as prayer and marriage counseling, as political threats through funding threats and legal designations.

3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/texas-officials-target-muslim-religious-practices-as-political-threats

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Cite as: Texas political targeting of Muslim religious practices. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/texas-political-targeting-of-muslim-religious-practices