Texas Lawmakers Launch Anti-Sharia Caucus, Muslims Call Out Fear-Mongering
Community leaders stress that Sharia is a personal moral code guiding faith and family life, not a political threat.
A group of Texas lawmakers has announced the creation of the “Sharia Free Texas Caucus,” echoing similar moves at the national level that target Muslims under the guise of protecting “Christian values.”
Rep. Brent Money (R-Greenville) claimed the caucus was formed in response to what he called “the alarming rise of Sharia Law in Texas,” framing Islam as an outside influence threatening the state’s identity, according to KERA News.
Muslim organizations, however, have denounced the caucus as a blatant attempt to stigmatize their faith. The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) emphasized that Sharia is not a political system but a set of personal religious guidelines—such as fasting, honoring parents, and charitable giving—that help Muslims live closer to God.
“Muslim Americans are teachers, lawyers, doctors, politicians, and neighbors. We are an essential part of the cultural fabric of Texas and the United States,” said CAIR Texas community liaison Nooradeen Barreh.
The caucus’s formation comes amid heightened scrutiny of Muslim-led projects in North Texas, including the proposed Meadow development by the East Plano Islamic Centre, which has faced lawsuits and federal investigations into potential religious discrimination.
Muslim Texans say the rhetoric around Sharia is being weaponised to marginalise their community.
“It’s a path to get closer to God,” explained Aminah Chowdhry, a member of EPIC mosque. “I’m fasting—that’s part of Sharia. I’m good to my parents—that’s part of Sharia.”