Texas Attorney General in new Sharia clampdown over Kaufman County project
Paxton says, “There Will Be No Sharia City” under his watch - although the developer denies such plans, promising to respect Texan laws in building a "sustainable city".
Attorney General Ken Paxton has taken a firm stand against the possibility of sharia law influencing a proposed development in Kaufman County, launching an official investigation after some Texans described the project as an unlawful “sharia city.”
Paxton’s office is scrutinizing land acquisitions linked to SEE Holding, a Dubai-based developer, and Kaufman Solar LLC, a U.S. entity, both of which have purchased thousands of acres for what they call a “sustainable city.”
As part of this push, Paxton issued Requests to Examine (RTEs) to both companies, demanding records of their communications with local and state officials, details about their relationship, and specifics on the development and real estate transactions.
“There will be no ‘sharia city’ in Texas under my watch,” Paxton declared.
“While you’re on American soil, you will obey America’s laws. I have launched this investigation to determine the nature of this development in Kaufman County and will be thoroughly investigating this matter for any unlawful actions,” The Dallas Express reported.
Paxton’s office emphasized that the investigation aims to ensure the proposed development does not violate Texas law, harm the state, or undermine existing legal and regulatory frameworks.
SEE Holding’s plans for a large-scale “Sustainable City USA” on roughly 2,300 acres have not yet resulted in a formal site plan or development proposal. Developers have assured county leaders they will comply with Texas law and regulations before seeking approvals.
Concerns from local residents and state lawmakers have intensified due to SEE Holding’s overseas projects, some of which include mosques among their amenities. County officials have promised that developers will return with detailed plans and allow public comment before any approvals are granted.
Prior to Paxton’s announcement, county officials noted that no state authority had initiated a formal inquiry and described the proposal as being in its early stages. Paxton’s office has not alleged specific violations but stated the investigation will determine compliance with Texas law and whether further legal action is necessary.
While there has been no official complaint from the Muslim community, in similar cases, such as the East Plano Islamic Center (EPIC City) project, Muslim organizations, like the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), have responded to state investigations and lawsuits by defending their right to operate and rejecting accusations of seeking to impose sharia law.
CAIR has called such actions “politically motivated anti-Muslim publicity stunts” and emphasized that their communities are open to all and comply with U.S. law.
In public meetings on the Kaufman County project, representatives of SEE Holding (the Dubai-based developer) have stated that the proposed “Sustainable City USA” would comply with all applicable Texas laws and regulations and had also allegedly claimed that it would not be building a mosque on the premises.
Community and Advocacy grups have called for respect for constitutional rights and equal treatment under the law.
In similar situations, Muslim groups have strongly denied any intent to create “sharia cities” and have emphasized compliance with U.S. law.